Is it okay to mod a rare head?

Wow! Much passion spoken with a lot of words! Personally, I think that if there weren't so few dolls to go around to begin with, this wouldn't even be a topic for discussion. Lets face it, all BJDs are rare compared to other things that are bought and sold. Wouldn't beautifully customizing a doll make it one of a kind and therefore quite special and unique?

 

If someone has the means to acquire a rare doll, it is perfectly within his/her right to do whatever s/he wants to. If modding the rare head is what the person wants to do, then yes, it is fine to do that.

 

If we are going through with it, I'd like to sign up for a Bermann or if that's too much to ask a Scarface Reisner on an SD17 body. An Unoa Lusis or Sist would be nice too and I do see that some people mentioning custodian or the feelings of the community have at least the Unoas I'm interested in. Those people wouldn't mind sharing their dolls a bit more, right?
Or maybe I should save up my money and buy those dolls myself no matter how hard that may be.

 

This hobby is completely unique and people come to it and stay in it for an enormous variety of reasons. One thing about it that appeals to me is the opportunity for people to be really creative. So no matter what someone does, what dolls they choose, etc. I am never going to criticize them. I think you have to respect the other person's creativity and vision, even if it is completely opposite of your own. It's why I have never understood the handful of people who feel they have to criticize other people's choices. The uniqueness of the dolls is in my opinion the whole point of this hobby.
That said- I would PERSONALLY never mod a rare head. However, I have modded the heck out of a bobobie body because at less than $200, if I really messed it up it would not be a huge loss.
But if someone owns a rare head and they want to mod it- go right ahead. I would hope it would be done with discretion and skill, but even if it isn't - really not my business what someone else does to their property.
I can see how it might really bug you, though, if it was your Grail head that you had never gotten and then find someone else modding one.

 

I cannot believe how many people here believe that they are entitled to everybody else's property!

 

Like others have mentioned, I don't see how LE BJDs and the Mona Lisa go together. Also, like others have mentioned, the Mona Lisa has no duplicates - there is only one authentic painting. LE dolls are quite numerous compared to that, and just because one person would want to modify their copy of that doll, it doesn't mean that the original artist's attempt was made in vain, because someone else might not want to modify that doll.

Just because it's limited edition, that doesn't mean it's OOAK.

^I had wanted to put this idea into writing somewhere else on the forum, but I didn't think I explained it as well as this. I think people assume that LE's are only purchased by people who eventually want to sell them, and this might contribute to the confusion people tend to have when they hear you're going to modify it. A person doesn't have to agree with modifying an LE, but they shouldn't try to dictate how someone handles their doll. I can understand the worry of having the modifications going horribly wrong... but modifications go horribly wrong on non-LE's too. You risk failure with both types.

 

Lord, ain't that the damn truth. Lu-wen is technically a limited and there are how many of those floating around?

 

I don't think there's anything morally wrong with modding a rare head (as distinct from 'limited head', because there are plenty of example of very numerous 'LE' heads - just look at Soom's MDs!). I wouldn't ever think to tell someone they 'couldn't' or 'shouldn't mod a head they owned.

Personally, I'd be much more wary about modding a rare head. Just because of the consequences if I failed to succeed at the mod in some way - with a common doll, you can always sell a project and rebuy another copy to try again. With a rare head, that might be impossible.

 

This might be partially off-topic, but wasn't there an entire thread here somewhere discussing the origins/essence of the "Is it wrong to/Is it OK to" threads?

I definitely remember there was one, but I can't find it.

EDIT: Never mind, I found the thread.

 

Yes, but if you look at the creation dates of the threads in question, this one pre-dates the other. =)

 

Dolls do not equal famous works of art that are a part of humanity's cultural history. Our dolls are lovely, and great skill went into making them, but they aren't anywhere near the same level. Comparing the two just doesn't work.

Sensibility in this case really depends on what you want out of the hobby. If you really like to keep things in their original forms and like to preserve the artistry of the company, then modding would not be sensible -- you wouldn't get the same enjoyment out of the doll. However, if you really enjoy the modding process and feel that you would get more out of the doll by putting some work in yourself, then modding makes perfect and complete sense.

But here's the big kicker -- the person that bought the doll owns the doll. There is no custodianship going on. The owner is not charged with keeping the doll so it can be passed on to the rest of the community. Likewise, no one is more deserving of a doll than someone else -- if you have the cash, and the timing, and the luck you get the rare doll. If you don't, well, better luck next time. Just because someone wants to make some changes to a doll does not mean that they don't love the doll and want to sell. Nor does it mean that someone else would be more deserving.

I agree with this, and you make some very good points. I love the sharing aspect of the hobby, but it does have it's downside in that people can take things too far, and suddenly instead of just being interested in what their fellow hobbyists are doing, they're behaving as if they actually have a say in other hobbyists' choices. It's an attitude that pops up all over the place -- much much more than it should considering, as you said, it's obviously poor behavior.

 

The only reason not to mod a rare head is because it would spoil resale value. "Mint, original, rare."
If you intend to keep it and hand it down to your great-grandbabies, go ahead.

 

I think it's ok. Every owner should do whatever he likes to do with their dolls. But if you decide to sell it one day, you should keep in mind that the original value will drop compared to unmodiefied heads. Even the head is super rare and always sells for high prices - if it's modded it would not reach the original value.
Except it's a wonderful unique modding job, but if it's original features are removed (like removed vampire teeth or elf ears,...), I'm not sure I'd ever spend a price like for an unmodded rare head.

 

I think its up to the owner.

 

I actually had gotten a rare doll in the past and I had changed her wig and eyes. That was it. I think if you're doing something where parts of the doll is still recognizeable (Like make-up or face), it's not a big deal. Similarly, adding things like scars and stuff isn't such a big deal either. But if you're doing something where there wouldn't even be a way to recognize the doll...I have to wonder why use such an expensive doll in the first place?

 

It is yours and you can do with doll what ever you want. But if in the future you decide to sell it, i think you could lose part of money.

 

There is no reason why it wouldn't be okay, unless you expect to mod the heck out of it and then try to sell it for the amount you paid or more. Granted, you can still do that, just don't get butthurt and complain when no one wants to buy it.

Other than that, the doll is your property and therefore, you have every right to do with it as you please.

Edit:
I'm just gonna say that after reading some of the responses here, it really boggles my mind that some think they have a right to another's doll. If I buy a limited doll, I can put it in a wood chipper if I so choose. I like being a part of this community, and I like that people share their dolls with it by way of photos and even selling them to others when they feel another would give it a better home... but that does not mean that we have some sort of right to another person's personal property.

It would be like buying a limited barbie doll and changing her hair style and adding on to her dress... and possibly even painting over her face. You don't wanna do it if you hope to preserve it and possibly sell it down the line. But if you bought with with the intention of it being yours for the rest of your life, only parting with it if you give it to a child or best friend, or family member, you do whatever you want.

None of us are entitled to another person's doll. We have no right to have any sort of expectations of owners in this community, much less higher expectations for someone owning a limited doll. You don't like it that someone modded a Soom limited? Or a dollshe Bermann? Too bad. If they intended to keep it forever, you weren't going to have a chance at the doll anyway, so you're better off just going your merry way. Go cry in a corner, stomp you feet, throw a fit all you like, but most are in this hobby for their personal enjoyment and not solely to make other people happy. And if someone paid several hundred dollars for a doll, they paid several hundred for their doll, not part their doll and part your doll.

 

I think anyone should be able to mod their doll even if it's rare. In the end, it's their doll and no one can say what they can or cannot do to it.

 

Ditto~ the value would not be the same and I wholly agree with you!! the dolls are to make the owner happy and if the owner wants to change something she/he's not happy with, then by all means, go ahead!

 

I don't see why not. I will admit it would probably be a wiser choice to practice mods on a cheap head first, but it's up to the owner whether or not they want to do it.