Is it okay to mod a rare head?

You know, in addition to this, I have to wonder -- even some of the molds that aren't limited, but aren't very popular, could be much more limited in quantity than actual 'limited edition' sculpts are once they're discontinued (or even if they never are). I realize the thread says 'rare', but by that token, no one should ever get a sculpt that isn't already popular to modify if it's somehow wrong to do.

 

Companies don't always say how many they make of a particular LE, so it's hard to say what the average number of a run is. And some basic runs are probably pretty tiny, especially on the pre-order basis most companies operate under.

Of course it's okay. Do what you will with your own property.

Personally, if it were genuinely a 3 in the world left situation, I wouldn't mod. But that's just me. I'd have a hard time wiping a One-off faceup, so I can't see myself modding something super hard to get. Again, just me. I think rarity is cool.

For an inexperienced modder or someone with dramatic mods -- or simply practice -- in mind, I'd say trying to find a less expensive, less rare head would be smarter. There aren't that many truly unique features on BJD heads. I'd say most sculpts you could find something similar. But it wouldn't be WRONG to mod it. The original sculptor/designer etc may well be horrified (if for some weird reason they found out), the community might hate it, but hey, it's yours now. Quite frankly, any of those people might also love what you do.

 

*cough* Yes! My seriously beloved Zelgadis turns out to be a sculpt that just hasn't been made for a LONG time now. Who knew? At the time all I knew was "wow. It's...Zel." Had to have. Couldn't afford. Worked out a wonderful trade and ... he's been painted, dyed, repainted, scraped down, redyed... He's blue-green. With rocks. I haven't seen any others of the sculpt in YEARS. I have no idea whether I'd have been brave enough to do this if I had known he was going to be discontinued (along with his entire company) -- but at the time I think he was just one of Lovelyhouse's standard sculpts.

I just read this for the first time today (procrastination is an art) and have to admit to a sick sort of attraction to the idea of a "dollfie archive." Can you imagine? HOW COOL WOULD THAT BE?? You'd have to have a huge building but... I always have said I want one of each. That would be like going to heaven without the death part coming first!!

 

That would be so very, very cool. And it makes me wonder: how many sculpts (discontinued ones included) are there exactly?

Anyways, what you said surreality is actually a good point. There are many sculpts out there and of most I have no idea how many were actually sold. I can imagine that there are more of a certain limited sculpt out there than of some standard sculpts. Why would it be okay to mod the latter, but not the first?

 

I've wondered that myself, as well as how many dolls have actually been made and sold.

 

I think it's their head and they can do what they want to it.

 

People can do whatever they want with their dolls; after all, it's theirs. I'll admit, though, that I tend to scratch my head at people who can't seem to make up their mind. I've seen someone buy a CP Woosoo, mod it, decide they didn't like it, and then sell it...THREE TIMES! An unmodified Woosoo is hard enough to find! So I get slightly annoyed when the owner has no idea how to plan and ends up modifying a doll (or you know THREE of the same mold) that some other folks are trying to find untouched.

But if the owner can mod a limited and keep it because they truly love it better that way, then all the power to them! I have tons of respect for owners who are fearless and confident enough to do that, and still be sentimental about it.

 

That'd be interesting to know. I've also always wondered what the head to body ratio would end up being, too .

An archive would be cool. At Tenshi no sato they have a room with every Volks dollfie in every version -- man those glass cases are getting packed! But it's both useful and really cool to go through.

 

That sounds seriously awesome. You know, I'd always thought, 'if I could, I probably would' -- but that probably just became a definitely. I'd love to see that, whether I was buying anything while there or not! (And I'd break down and do it, I really would.)

If I won some megalottery, I'd gladly have a dollyarchivemuseumthing. Of course, I'd probably call it my living room, invite people to pile over for meets, and just have it all set up open to the public once I was dead. Er. *cough*

As to the numbers, I'm pretty sure there are more Chroms (limited) out there, for instance, than Olivines (standard, discontinued), Soom-wise. There are surely more Heliots (limited) than Lupins (standard). I have an Iplehouse Akando that is, technically, limited in his fullset form, but the actual sculpt can be had any time they open up their custom order periods in the same special skin tone. It makes those items no less 'limited editions', but it does make them potentially less rare than some of their counterparts -- or to some extent, less irreplaceable than they could be otherwise.

 

I can definitely agree with that. And that's even more sad(the numbers not the modding), because the dolls that end up not being popular are less that the Limiteds that have far more. How often do you see a Soom Romantic Gena as opposed to Beryl? Granted, Beryl wasn't limited to numbers, but a time window, but one was a Standard that could be bought at anytime. Would I be upset if someone modded a doll like that? No, that would mean we'd have check our dolls against some sort of registry on whether or not it's permitted. @-@

 

For me, it's up to the owner. Your doll, your money, your choice. Your doll may be loved by the BJD community, but it's certainly not OWNED by the whole community. No one has the right to tell you no.

But I wouldn't do it. xD I'd feel bad about changing a rare doll, which is probably why my wishlist contains average, easy-to-obtain-besides-the-price dolls.

 

I do not want to repeat "It's your doll" part, I'd rather say: yes, I would mod any head, no matter how limited, if I'd prefer it modded better. I did major mods and sculpted from a scratch, so I have guts and skillz.

 

Wouldn't that be funny if we had to register our dolls and then check first before modding them to make sure a certain a number of them were already in existence as is before modding. This going for any sculpt, limited or otherwise. Granted that would also defeat one of the main purposes of this hobby.

 

I'd probably check out of simple curiosity. Then whip out the Dremel and just carry on regardless!

 

It all depends of: "if you think you will keep the doll forever" or "you plan to sell it somewhere in the future", if you plan to have that doll with you for a long time sure, go ahead, it's YOUR doll and you should be happy with it, but if you plan to sell it in the future it's not the best way to go...at very least in my opinion... :S

 

I think it would be a waste to use it for practice, but if you can actually do good mods, and it's your dream doll save for the mods-to-do, I think it's perfectly okay. It's your doll in the end, and you're the one who has to live with it...

 

But tastes change. You cannot know for sure if you are going to keep a doll forever. Even if you're madly in love with it now, in a couple of years down the track, you may not like it as much as you once did.

I'm not saying that this should stop someone from modding, in fact it works even more in favour of an argument for modding (I don't like this part of my doll anymore - where's the dremel?) I'm just saying it's not exactly possible for one to make a decision based on this sort of argument. No one knows what the future holds.

 

i don't think that it's a good idea. if you have an OOAK or one of only a few, you have to remember that the artist probably spent a lot of time making it just right. i personally would never be able to get over my guilt if i were to alter one, as i'd feel that i were robbing something from the rest of the world. i can understand the whole "it's your doll, do what you want" thing, but i just can't justify it in my head.

 

Its there doll head. If they wanna its there prerogative.

 

I think as long as you arent just PRACTACING or bored, and DO NOT EVER plan to sell them...its ok! if the doll is your perfect, everything you ever wanted in a doll, DOLL but maybe the nose or lips are just a tad off, do what youd like! but if you arent keeping it forever....or are bored...dont Dx