Abstract: A tattoo needle drive system for providing adjustment of the firmness of a needle strike into the skin. The tattoo needle drive system generally includes a drive unit having a frame and a motor and a drive member movably connected to the drive unit. The motor is mechanically connected to the drive member and is adapted to reciprocate in a back-and-forth linear motion. A connecting member is removably connected between the tattoo needle and the drive member to transfer the back-and-forth linear motion from the drive member to the tattoo needle. The connecting member is constructed of a resilient material such as plastic or rubber to provide a desired firmness to the needle strike into the skin.