Is it okay to mod a rare head?

One of the best things about BJDs is how custom they can be, how they can be changed. Maybe it's "criminal" to "restrict/forbid" people from altering their dolls--limited/rare, or not.

 

A point to consider that has just occurred to me:

Not only does modding your rare head make it rarer/OOAK, but it also makes OTHER members of that sculpt family rarer. So from a buying/selling standpoint, it would affect resale value of the other moulds as well. For example: SOOM Chrom paws used to go on the marketplace for about $120, now they're up to about $200-250.

I realise a good deal of this is due to the parts finding 'permanent' homes, but I have to wonder, how much of the increase in resale value was affected by parts being bought and modded?

(Just out of curiosity) How would an increase in resale value affect your opinions on modding LE parts? Would your personal choice whether to mod the head/parts be affected in any way by supply/demand?

(Note here, I'm still of the school of thought "Your doll, do what you damn well want and stop asking if it's okay!" But still interested in other people's opinions.)

 

It doesn't effect my views on modding. This is a hobby where customizing is a big part and should be expected, and people should do what makes them happiest with their dolls. So therefor, mod away!

Ultimately, when it comes to dolls, I leave resale prices out of the equation whether it's a question of modding, what sculpts to buy, or whatever else. You never know what's going to hold it's popularity in the future and when things aren't released in a specific number (for example order periods), you can't always tell how much of something there even is. Ultimately, this hobby should be enjoyable and it makes more sense to focus on how to have fun with the dolls than worry about how much they might/might not be worth years down the road.

 

I guess it's ok to mod rare dolls, but I don't think you should buy it intending to mod it extensively. If you have a character in mind and you want this rare doll but want to change the faceup, that's not really bad because you could change it later. On the other hand, if you have a character in mind and you see this doll that doesn't match it, find a different doll to portray it. If you buy this rare doll and love it, I don't see why you would want to mod it.

 

I'm of the opinion that what anyone does with something they themselves bought is no one else's concern. Is it a shame if an extremely rare doll is modded do be unrecognizable? Maybe...but's it's no one's choice but the owner's.

 

i think that he doll is rare, so why change it or decrease the value? u sould do that to a differnt doll

 

Ah, but what if a doll is absolutely perfect, except for one tiny little fact? Like, for example, my Buddydoll Raphael who is perfect in every way except for his nose in profile. If I sanded down his nose a little, it lowers his resale value and it means that his no-longer-available sculpt is no longer factory perfect.

I do not have plans to sell this doll, ever. I am probably the most attatched to him out of all my dolls because his character means the most to me. Are you saying that even though I am probably never going to part with him and thus he is out of the market, I can not do what I wish to do with a possession that is mine?

Another question: How would you stop me? By bemoaning me anonymously on the internet? (Okay, sorry, that was a little harsh.)

I might care about the resale value of a doll if I knew I wasn't as attatched to it as another doll, or if I was actively shopping for a doll that would shell one of my characters. However, once I own the doll and have formed a strong attatchment to it, all bets are off, and out comes the sandpaper and dremel.

 

I don't think it matters, after all, it's not my doll. People can do whatever they like with their dolls.

 

i think you should do what you like but if its a rare bjd head than i wouldnt

 

If you want to mod it, do it. You have the right to do with what you want with your possesion, you´ve paid for it, you´re the owner of the object, so, you don´t need to care of other people´s freak opinions or angryness. Thats all.

 

I agree with the others, it's your doll and if you want to mod it you have the right to. But I also think that if you ARE going to mod a rare head you should probably have a lot of experience doing it. If you mess up it'd be a lot harder to replace than if you were just doing it with a basic head.

 

I agree with everyone here on the fact that: "If you bought it, you can do whatever you want with it."

I also think that if a person mods a head to their liking (and they will be keeping it for a character), then it adds value to that head. By "value" I mean emotionally and physically. It would be a waste for someone to hang onto a rare head that would just sit in a box for years and not be seen. I would rather like that person to mod the rare head and have it on display.

 

I have to chuckle at all of the people comparing BJDs to Monet paintings, or the Mona Lisa, or other great works of art. I'm sorry, but no. This is not an accurate metaphor. Even the most expensive, one-of-a-kind ABJD will never hold the same cultural significance of the Mona Lisa. Personal significance? Sure. I value my dolls more than anything Charles Dickens ever wrote, but that's because I dislike Dickens. I don't expect everyone in the word to feel that way simply because my values are a little different.

And the comparison to killing an endangered species? Please. Spare me the melodrama.

A doll is a doll is a doll. I seriously doubt it will ever end up in a museum, gawked at by third-grade field trips a hundred and fifty years in the future. You're not ruining an entire species, or a culturally relevant work of art. You're customizing a hobby collectible that happens to be significant to a very small percentage of the population. That's it. No one outside of this hobby even cares. And really, when it comes to stuff like this, I'm astonished by how much stock people seem to place in other doll collectors and their opinions. I'm sorry, but when it comes to my dolls, what I say goes and the rest be d***ed!

 

I keep seeing more and more arguments in the "the value will go down" spectrum.
One, if it is a skilled mod, it most likely won't go down. It's a matter of supply and demand. Some may like it and pay more money for it, but some might also not. It depends on the doll/mod and the people that are lurking in the marketplace.
And who says they will ever sell the doll? It's downright silly to assume everyone on here sells their dolls. Some people are actually happy with their dolls.
And if they had to sell the head in question, it would most likely not be for reasons to get the most money out of it. I know some people buy dolls, customize them and resell them to make more money, but most people don't do that.
I have a rare head, which I might mod. But I don't plan on ever selling it. So everyone who will get offended because "it won't be the same and it won't sell and I can't have iiiiiit (insert whiney noise)" is just way off to begin with. It will never be yours, not because I have changed the mold, but because I will never sell it.

 

All of this. Pazuzu said it perfectly, with just the right amount of attitude, love it.

My only digression maybe the museum part. However in 150years a bjd might end up in a doll museum, a small blimp I'm sure, but quite possible. Though I'm sure it'd be for far more generalized reasons than it being a limited edition Volks or Fairyland doll. More of, this was a ball-jointed doll, made slightly popular in the late 1990-whatever year by increased trade of Asian crafts and arts throughout the western world at that time. No one will care that the doll is rare or not. Heck by popularity it'd probably be a Luts El. XD. Or maybe a modder would become so famous for their work, that one of their modded limited edition dolls were to end up in a museum, the mods alone being the work of art and putting it into the class with the Mona Lisa. Now there is a thought, I would love to see come to fruitation for some of the amazing modders and artist found on this board.

And skimming the 9 pages I must say I must've missed the comparison to an endangered species. Really? How would modding rare dolls effect an ecosystem? Or other dolls even to keep it more in context? This train of thought alone scares me.

 

I want to applaud ^^ This is just so true. I've got a couple of limited dolls - okay, not the rarest most expensive kind, but still - and I love them so much that I hope I never have to sell them. So it wouldn't matter if I modded them or not neither.

 

Although I'm relatively new to this hobby, I must say that modding a rare doll seems pointless and (hear me out) if you're not going to respect the rarity of the sculpt. There are so many people that would want the sculpt just how it is and respect it.

However, I must say that I would NEVER say to someone who had modded or had the sculpt to mod that I was against it or thought them 'stupid' or any other judgement, because it is rightfully their property.

I think at the end of the day that if you've purchased it and then decided it's not want you want and mod it then I think then yes that is fine. My issue if with people who buy it, already knowing what their faults are with the piece. ( i hope I make sense)

Once you've bought it and you know it and you love it and maybe want to love it a bit more by making it yours, I have no problem. But if you're buying it with the intention to mod it it makes me feel sorry for the people who want it for what it is and couldn't get hold of it, but only because they respect the natural form. Other than that I have no problem. You bought it. You do what you want with it. That's it really.

 

I'm sorry Countess, but if I buy a doll I'm not going to consider anyone else's feelings. I had money to buy it, so I buy it. If they don't, that's really not my problem. It may be harsh, but if you're going to care about what everyone wants, there is no way to enjoy this hobby.
Most limited heads are unique. Usually there is no standard mold that looks like it that you could mod instead.
Like I said before, I have a rare head that I want to mod. That doesn't mean I don't respect the original form. I'm not going to sell it anyway, so I don't see what that has to do anything with it.
Your arguments only work if you think about selling the mold. I'm not going to keep my head in pristine condition because someone thinks I should leave it that way.
I think it's a bit radical to say someone who mods a doll has no respect for the natural form. Of course I do, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered to buy it. But that doesn't mean I can't change anything about it. All the mods on rare heads I have seen are extremely minor. No one uses a rare head for extreme modding unless they are skilled in doing so.
The natural form always stays intact. It's just more personalized.

 

No, Snow, i think you've misunderstood me, I guess what I mean is it's a shame to buy a rare doll with the intention of modding it.

I saw a rare mod the other day that someone had acquired, but had never really wanted and they drastically altered it, it was a shame because it no longer had that same originality.

I'm talking about modding where it no longer resembles the original form. Modding like piercings and scarring and things don't bother me as such.

I'm not very good at explaining myself sometimes, so I really hope I'm explaining this well enough!

I like scarring and character aspects, but when you get rid of the essential shape of the original mould...I guess it seems like a shame to me. Only because I think drastic mods are a disrespect. That's what I meant, i don't think I was very clear. Sorry if my lack of tact with words upset anyone! I really wouldn't want that!

So, what you're saying Snow, I totally respect and I think what your saying is an honorable respect of the natural form. I hope that makes sense. The reason I said it was a shame was becaues the natural form is so unique. And as long as this essence stays in tact, I hate no issues. I mean when the eye shape is beyond repair and then they come along and change it all.

ooohhh I'm so bad at expressing myself. I think actually in part I argree with you, Snow, that the natural form being personalised can be beautiful, I just didn't make it clear that I was referring to changes that edit or erase (so to speak) the natural form.

I would actually love to see how you've personalised a rare head. To see what aspects of it you have developed on and, I can only assume, respected.

 

Oeh, that's a good one... I think it would depend a lot on how far the modding is going... I mean, if it's just making ear piercings, I would be okay with it... But if someone really did a heavy mod on a very rare doll head I suppose I would find it a waste. I mean, if you're going to mod heavily anyway, why not take a less rare doll head?