What do you think of "starter dolls?"

Mine was a LE Iplehouse EID Akando-Pierrot fullset second-hand... think like 50 were made :P
Gave 1000USD and he was my grail doll

If someone had said to me that I should pick another(cheaper) doll as my first one, I would have told them to mind their own business(probably something worse).

 

I am getting whats considered a starter doll, he is a 1/3 Bobobie boy. The Bobobie/resin soul line are more on the cheaper side of the price spectrum so they make good dolls for people like me who desperately want a doll but cant afford one months rent to buy the "non-starter" dolls. I already know I will get into modding the dolls, I do it with non doll things so its only a matter of time, although I may actually look for damaged dolls to acquire to practice my skills rather then a brand new doll. The kind that may need a new finger/toe sculpted or might have had a face up gone horribly wrong. I like the idea of giving new life to something at the end of its old one.

 

Getting a starter doll, for me, was a Huge mistake. i hated that doll. i almost quite the hobby becaue of how loose it was and how non-photogentic it was. i only had her for a month, sold her, and bought a 500$ doll, then became even more in love with the hobby.
I think before starting the hobby, research research research! then take time to get the doll you Love! not like, Love!

 

Well I'm getting a quite large boy as my first bjd. I just don't want to spend money in another doll because that one is my dream doll but I understand that if people can afford another cheaper doll to practice they get it.(lucky you!)

 

For my first doll, I'm getting what is considered a "starter doll", but I didn't just get him because he was affordable for me. I actually really think he is adorable and perfect for the character I'm going to mod him after. There are definitely expensive dolls in the $600 range I have my eyes on, and if all goes well with my RS Song, I know I will be a little more confident in my later decisions to spend 2 1/2 months rent on any of my "dream" dolls.

I think that starting off with a more affordable doll definitely has its advantages. Especially with someone like myself, who loves BJDs but isn't sure it is a hobby that I will REALLY enjoy in the long run (though I am looking forward to joining in on the fun, even if my RS is the only doll I ever buy).

 

I got what can be considered a starter doll I suppose; a Doll Leaves MSD, W. But the reason I got him was not because well... he were cheaper, but rather because I fell so in love with that sculpt that I HAD to have him. I was actually going to buy a doll twice his price when I saw him; and I'd have gotten her if I didn't make a heel-face turn on the very last moment and ran for him.

I don't think people should go for starter dolls, all in all, rather what they like best. It's better to be in love with a sculpt than to simply get one because they're cheaper.

 

I still haven't gotten my first, but I have considered the idea of getting a "starter doll" sometimes. Then I realized it was not what I wanted. I thik anyone has to start with what they feel, and talking about myself, what I feel is that I'd rather save a little more and get what I really like rather than waste my money on something that cannot satisfy my wish. Of course, before getting my first doll, I'll read and check around to know what it's supposed I should know to not damage it and mess it up. Then I'll go step by step: first replacing a wig, second replacing eyes, and later, when I feel confident, redoing a face up.
Still I'm getting a kind of starter doll since I'm going to start with a fullset. But it must be a doll that I really really like, with a face up that I really like, wearing clothes that I really like.

 

Is there even such thing as a starter doll? I don't even know what that is xP

But that's kind of a bogus concept to me. Is there even such thing as a "beginner?" I'm pretty sure we've all handled toys or dolls.

Why buy a doll that you don't really like? I can understand buying a cheap head to practice face ups on because you don't want to erase your current doll's faceup, but that has nothing to do with a starter doll.

If someone told me, "No, I don't think you should go for your dream doll just yet, try getting this doll. It's cheaper" I would wonder why I would waste my money on a doll that I don't even like.

Basically, in my opinion, there is no such thing as a starter doll. There are no dolls rated by level of experience. It's a doll.

 

[paragraph]As a newbie who doesn't have a doll yet, I considered aiming first for a RS/BBB as a starter doll... Problem was, I had fallen in love and decided I wanted a doll when I saw a specific Dollmore Youth Eve, and I couldn't get her out of my head. At this point, she's going to be my second doll, most likely, as I'm currently in a GO for a head and intend to get him a body before I purchase a different doll... Ha, so I'm starting with a hybrid. Yes it scares me a bit. Is it going to be that bad? Probably not, I have my sister Thotep and several helpful local friends met through a meet-up, who like to teach, whether it's face-ups, clothing, etc. So maybe it doesn't scare me as much as it would if I were more alone in the hobby.[/paragraph][paragraph]You can bet your bippy if I didn't have that, I'd probably be getting a BBB/RS or something similar, or even a smaller doll to start with, but as it is I can tell 1/3 is definitely my size, having been around so many of them. I just want to hug them all![/paragraph]

 

I don't get the starter doll idea. Even if a person decides to buy cheaper and "simplier" doll, it still will cost a nice sum of money. Personally I think it's better to buy a doll that you really like than get one to practise on.

 

My "starter doll" (really, just the first doll I acquired) was a Kid Delf Cherry. I personally think that Luts dolls are excellent "starter dolls", because they're all quite attractive and well-produced, Luts is a reputable and well-known establishment, because they are versatile enough that varying customization is feasible, and because they seldom come with fantasy parts and are easy enough to pose (despite being single-jointed), and pose quite well. But yeah... I just love Luts.
Shelley: I agree with you; even "cheapie" BJDs are quite pricey, and I would imagine there's a reason why they are far less expensive alternatives to other BJDs (poorly made, generally unattractive, etc). Besides, purchasing a doll simply because of its less fiscally-impacting price seems almost a waste of money, unless the doll is truly one you're interested in for aesthetic reasons. Buying a doll you may not actually like because it's less expensive than other BJDs may result in rather ambivalent feelings about the hobby in general.

 

I think the idea of a starter doll is absolutely silly!

Get the doll you want, not the doll that people tell you to because it's "easy" or "cheap" or whatever else... :P

 

Joining the people who say that 'starter doll' is a strange concept... I bought my first doll because I wanted that doll, not a doll. It's true that I kind of lucked out because the doll I wanted was a DZ MSD: easy to work with and not on the most expensive side of the spectrum. But really, personally I don't see the point of getting a doll that isn't the doll you absolutely want. Maybe I can say that because my taste isn't the most expensive, though :p. I have been procrastinating about the one Soom doll on my wishlist...

 

My very first BJD was an Obitsu 60cm, who I pretty much ruined... I snapped his back, I cut up his old female bust (which I could have used now that I changed his character and want him to be female), and dirtied him pretty badly... However, my first RESIN BJD with elastic and actual eyeholes was a DragonDoll Xi, who really wasn't as cheap as a Bobobie type doll... All in all, he was around $255 total... Honestly, if I'd gone toward a cheaper doll I hadn't wanted as badly, I don't think I would have continued the hobby. Sayuki brought such joy to me, I could never have wanted any other doll more.

The only regret I have about him is that I wasn't aware of yellowing back then, and I'd bring him outside with me on sunny days, just to spend time with him... Therefore, he's yellowed pretty badly. Luckily I've managed to adapt his character, so his yellow skin has an explanation!

So... in my opinion, it's better to get the doll you really want. Otherwise, you may not even want to stay involved in the hobby. I know that, after I got my Obitsu and messed him up, I almost didn't want to pursue BJDs anymore. If Sayuki hadn't been my first "official" BJD, my interest would have faded quickly.

 

I would only get a doll because I loved it. Even a "starter doll" would be a huge investment and I'd rather save up for something that really calls to me than settle for something I don't love because I'm new and want a cheap doll to learn on. :\

My "Starter doll" is going to be Iplehouse Isar. I haven't gotten her yet, but I will soon. ^_^ The only thing I'm really worried about is her joints. Since I got her tan, I want to find a way to protect her joints from getting discolored.

 

I imagine most people getting into these dolls will have researched and researched before making their first doll purchase so chances are they will have a good idea what they do and don't like, not just think ooh that one's cheap I'll get that, without actually liking it. When I bought my first doll I looked on all the doll sites I could find and didn't make a decision until I had found the perfect one, I still have her now so she definitely wasn't a 'starter', I didn't buy her thinking I'll just experiment on her until I can get a proper doll, she was the proper doll. Maybe I can understand people buying cheaper dolls if they want to experiment doing faceups, mods etc and aren't sure how good they'll be, but even people who've been collecting a long time can do that!

 

I think rather than getting a starter doll, it would be much better to do tons of research on dolls. I agree with the other people in this thread that getting a cheaper (but probably not by much) doll that you don't like as much would just turn you off from the hobby, which is a shame. Instead, just do as much research as you possibly can on the doll for everything that you might possibly do to it, and you'll end up with a doll that you love and the knowledge to take care of it properly.

 

My "starter" doll was a Doll Zone Shoyo 2008 Summer Edition Catgirl. As a limited fullset she had all the things I needed except shoes. As a chinese doll she was cheaper than the CP Danbi I was considering. MSD is manageable and the step above Barbie in my opinion; I had only seen MSDs before so the SD size was intimidating. She was also a doll sculpt I loved with a unique twist. I saw lots of Shoyos in excellent poses. MSDs are cute and clothes would be fun. That is how I got to the decision to buy her. She'd be easy right? Nope.

She is a nightmare starter doll. She doesn't pose and barely stands, I have done EVERY trick to make her better. If she does manage to stand it can only be in the Leeke Mary Janes I got her ages ago. I can't seem to string her correctly, I try it about once a week and it doesn't matter how tight or loose she's just not right. Her default wig looks like it has mange. She has a stain on her head cap from the pillows; she came like that to me new. She has extra resin on one foot I haven't sanded off. Both of her top lashes fell out in the first year; bad eye putty I think. Her legs are longer than most MSD girls I think so pants are short on her; clothes are a chore. She is work.

I love her, I don't regret her, and I will probably keep her for forever. She taught me about BJDs, made me work through a lot of issues in prep for my other dolls. And she also is how I learned how to keep dolls. My starter doll wasn't and isn't an easy doll. If a starter doll is what you want, consider that not all starter dolls are "easy".

Now, I have no issue with 'starter' dolls. Lets face it, this is an EXPENSIVE hobby and we don't always want to dive head first into the deep end. I don't care if someone sinks their money into a cheaper doll to try it out first. I think that person just needs to do it with a doll that they love. And realize that sometimes that love comes with alot of work. Tough love, y'all, tough love.

 

I think the idea of starter dolls is borderline ridiculous. It implies that it is the cheapy doll we get to make all the mistakes with. How about we all just slow down and do more research before ruining our precious dollies? By purchasing the one we love right away, we are more likely to love it and handle it properly.
There is enough information on here that with enough patience, virtually every mistake that can be made on a doll can be avoided.There is simply no need for a starter doll, unless you are too impatient to do your research.

 

I think it's better to just do research than get a doll you won't be upset about "messing up" with. Even the less expensive dolls are more money than I would want to feel like I have wasted...

Maybe get the least expensive doll on your wishlist if you're unsettled on the subject of whether you will stick with the hobby and want several dolls, but don't get a doll you feel "meh" about. Well, if anything, if you get the doll you want the most, I assume you'll be motivated to make sure he or she doesn't get hurt if you can help it.

I started with a tan doll and those are supposed to be more troublesome. But I think I was the most careful with my first doll, I'm a bit loose with my dolls the more I get since they aren't nearly as fragile as I imagined them.