Is it okay to mod a rare head?

Yes, yes it is. I mean, I understand that modding it if you're planning to resale might kill its value but if you don't then there's no harm done? I know that my newly purchased, relatively really rare head is going to be flying off for an eye mod so he can suit his character in the end of the month and I've got no regrets.

 

I'm not against it but it just doesn't make sense to me. Why spend so much extra money on a limited if you're doing heavy mods? Couldn't you do the same to a blank doll for cheaper? Small things I understand. Like if you loved everything about a limited, but it had elf ears and you don't collect fantasy. Then sure, human ear mod would be a great idea! But other than that sort of thing I don't see the reasoning. Just from a personal financial stand point I wouldn't be mad seeing a heavy modded limited; it's your doll, do what you want! But if I ask you why, I'm just curious and trying to understand and don't mean it in a nasty way at all.

 

I would never do such a thing. If I didn't like it as it was I would sell it to someone else. I would feel sacreligious or something. But I have the opinion that people can do whatever they want with their own dolls.

 

well my little rebel hachi head is one of only 10 in toffee skin and i had some people give me flak for wanting to pierce his ears when hes so rare and i could just use hot glue earrings instead and theres risk of damaging him in getting the piercings since he has very small ears that are very close against his head but i bought him knowing his rarity with every intention of piercing his ears since i wanna give him lots of large, dangly and heavy material earrings for his character... another doll i got flak for was my dollzone Ying which is a discontinued sculpt that i have completely ripped apart and carved into a skull but i got him already poorly modded by someone else so i feel more like i fixed him than ruined him but i still had someone send me a PM about how if i was going to take away so much of the doll anyways why didn't i use a different sculpt that wasn't discontinued instead of ruining a rare head like that and i was just like, "hes my head, i figure i can do what i want with him? and ya know what, i took a rare doll and just made him one of a kind and so far as i know you cant get much rarer than that?"

 

It depends on how rare the doll is.

If it's 1 of 500, yes, I'm ok with small mods. By small mods, I mean things like taking off the tips of elf ears, gently reshaping the jawline or nose, and simple additive/subtractive mods. If the head is unrecognizable after the mods, then it's too much for me.

If it's 1 of 1, no, I am not ok with that.

If it's 1 of 50, very small mods are ok, like de-tipping ears or slightly sanding a pointed nose down. The sculpt should still be mostly the original.

Some say, "I'll get a limited head to mod if the sculpt is the perfect base for my character!" I don't agree with that. If it's similar enough, then it shouldn't need to be modded. I would keep looking at other sculpts. There is bound to be one that is closer to what is imagined. If not, then maybe a Minimee option is best.

I don't like modding very limited sculpts. I like to think of dolls as artworks. It would hurt me terribly if a Picasso had its eyes moved back to the center of the face because the owner of it says it fits their character better. Or if a Monet had the lily pads painted over with dragons because the owner wanted a fantasy painting instead. There are so many sculpts and custom sculpting options out there that to dramatically change a super limited doll beyond recognition should not be the best option. For less rare dolls, though, I feel it's fine within reason.

My opinion, of course.

 

Of course it's okay. It's your doll!
...But if something goes wrong you can only blame yourself.

 

I'd like to revive this thread as I feel like I'm stuck in a very similar predicament.

Years ago I bought an Elysium Jamie head because he suited a character of mine perfectly, except he wasn't in tan which I intended to fix by dyeing. Jamie was not a limited sculpt, but I can only assume he wasn't very popular as I've yet to find another owner who has him. Now I'm conflicted about modding him for the same reason someone might be hesitant to mod a very limited sculpt. What if I ruin him? What if I'm not using him to his full potential?

Of course I'm not asking if it's "okay", but since it's a similar enough thread I didn't see the point in creating an entirely new one. What would you do? Should I continue searching for a new, more common sculpt to replace him with and just keep Jamie off to the side? Or what do you think?

 

Do whatever makes you happy! InkyBear, I think you'll be OK if you decide to dye your doll. If it doesn't turn out or you regret it you can always remove the dye later (it's a pain & tedious but it's doable). You could shop around for other sculpts available in tan skin if you like before you commit to anything. Personally I would not do any heavy, permanent mods on a rare doll, but you can do a lot to a doll that is reversible, leaving the doll in it's original state. And of course, everyone is free to do whatever they like to their dolls- rare or common. I think it is wise to consider resale value and permanence of any mods on any doll but if you've really thought about it and want to go for it DO IT!

 

Heh, I'm thinking along InkyBear's lines right now. I have an Elfdoll Yuan head that's been discontinued. She didn't work for the character I bought her for ... I'd feel bad about selling her because technically she was my first resin (even though I ordered her second, she arrived lightning-fast because she was just a head). I tried the mod in question before (I'd love to make her into another Bajoran), but I'm terrified I'd mess up and couldn't replace her.
Bit stupid really ... she's already been modded, I had to bevel out her neck opening some to make her work on the body I had intended for her (a DiM Love 2.0 - also discontinued by now). I know it's technically okay, but I'm still nervous about it.

 

Well, I guess people can do whatever they want with what's theirs, even though I kind of think it's a waste.
Unless it's some small mod, and that makes the doll perfect for them.

 

I just had the same problem! I just didn't actually get the doll I wanted to mod. I was looking for an LE, but chickened out...now I'm just going with the basic version. It's not so much that I have a problem with the right or wrong aspect of it (once I pay for it no one else has a say), but I was afraid that if I ruined it not only could I not replace it but it would kill me to have done so. If I mess up the basic head I can replace it easily.

In a perfect world, I'd use the LE. But the thought of going through all the hassle to find one and pay god knows what just to ruin it...no thanks.

 

Sometimes it makes me cringe...Like I saw a box opening video of someone who got a fullset Rozen Maiden BJD Volks and said: "I hate Rozen Maiden, I just got this doll to be the base for my character." like okay I get it if it's not your thing but why buy something so expensive, brand new from something you HATE just to modify it? It doesn't make any sense...I get your doll, your rules but it just makes me cringe if it's something like that.

 

If it makes you happy, you should not worry about it. I don't think I would ever mod one of my limited heads. The whole reason I purchased them, was because I was happy with them as is. What if something happened, you may not be able to replace it.

 

I think it depends on your viewpoint. If you don't really like it and plan to sell it shortly after you get it, why bother going through the effort of modding? If you love it and just want to open the eyes/add ears/piercings/whatever, go for it! Do it because you want to, or don't. Your money, your doll.

 

I started modding a discontinued head (Souldoll Apple) for a planned mod that would totally destroy her original features. I haven't got very far but I regret starting, because even if I have no interest in her she might have been someone's dream doll.

 

I say don't be afraid to mod. There's a lot of mods that can be undone in the hands of a skilled repairer, dollies have been brought back from severe fire damage, being shredded by overactive terriers and a whole host of things before. If you slip while cutting or accidentally dremel out too much, a little bit of epoxy then some blushing and (and this is my Australian showing) she'll be right. There is a very small amount of things that will 'destroy' dolly forever and ever, so just relax and do what you want, and if it doesn't work out, learn, remember, try again. =)

 

Anything is ok in this hobby, but I, personally, wouldn't mod a limited or rare doll if it wasn't out of necessity (seams, wonky joint).

 

I saw a modded Elf Ducan for sale on here once... it made me kinda sad I'd give anything for an elf Ducan, I love the sculpt (have a homme myslef), and its so rare to find one for sale that I couldnt quite believe someone would mod him...

 

It's your head, you can do what you want with it. If you are planning on selling it ever, modding could kill your price, but it's up to you.

Everyone has an opinion, but their opinions only have power over you if you allow them to.

 

That's your doll, so do whatever you want and what makes you happy.

If I couldn't customize my doll to the character that I want I would sell it ... then what's use of a head if I can't bond to it

Of course modifications that can't be redone later may change the selling price