What do you think of "starter dolls?"

I think some very excellent points have been made in this thread. If i had been lurking for a while and created a "wishlist" then I would probably suggest getting one of the less expensive dolls on the list first, as long as it was still a doll you loved. Im the type of person to jump right in though.. my first two dolls were LE sooms but I hit the ground running and never looked back. I knew that i would love this hobby and up til now ive yet to lose interest. There are some people though who might have a slight suspicion or worry that this is a "phase" type of hobby... and for them I would say to get the less expensive doll first.

 

Hm, I don't totally agree.. nor disagree. I bought a cheaper doll first because I didn't want to get the doll, and not like the hobby afterall. I wanted to make sure I'd be very interested in the hobby, and like the SD size. I never thought of not getting a more expensive one so not to damage it; I did a TON of research.

 

I think if you're really not sure about the financial, time and creative investment this hobby can be and whether it's really for you then starter dolls are the perfect way to go. I know at the time I had no idea that my early dolls would become my "starter dolls" but they taught me a lot about what I could and couldn't expect to be able to do in this hobby and at least I wasn't worried that my many 1st attempts at stringing, face-ups, blushing, sanding etc would result in causing expensive damage on a doll I couldn't afford to buy spare parts for or replace. When I bought them, I thought these 1st 3 dolls would be "with me forever" but all have since been parted with and I am very thankful for everything they taught me about this hobby...so from me, I give starter dolls the big thumbs up

 

I guess that if you're extremely new to the hobby, don't know anything about BJDs and happen to have that much cash lying around a starter doll would probably be a good choice but personally I always tell newbies to get a doll they love (not just one because they want a BJD right now and it's the cheapest one)

 

I think starter dolls are great. You never know if you're going to get into the hobby or not, and you don't want to spend a ton of money just to let the doll sit in a box.

 

I honestly find that some dolls that are at the "starter doll" prices are often NICER then some of the more expensive companies! Such as many Chine's companies come with the seems already sanded. My first doll was expensive, and I LOVE her, but I HATE how she poses, My Zaol basic love cost me 480 @_@ but my next doll, Antoni, a Doll family A damien, who was on sale for only 244, poses like a dream (atleast compared)! I agree, don't get a doll you won't want. But getting a cheaper one at first incase you fall out of the hobby or 'mess up' isn't a bad idea if you are worried about it. I honestly view my dolls as artistic creations, so I so far have fallen in love with any doll I have gotten, most of which I have kept in the 300 dollar range (other then my first)

 

I got an expensive dream doll first and proud of it. It's nicks and marks are a sign of its glory.
Go big or go home-- all that needs to be said.

 

I don't think it really matters that much, at least to me. I was planning on buying a quite expensive iplehouse doll as my first, but the customs were closed at that time and I really wanted that tan skin. XD
So I settled for my much less expensive 2nd choice and I love him so much that I never regretted it. I too think that some of the 'cheaper' dolls are really beautiful as well, it all depends on your preferences.
I was really afraid at first about removing body parts and restringing, which I had to do because I wanted to give him a full body blushing, but my friends who have a lot of experience with dolls were really helpful and encouraged me as well as answering any questions I came up with.
So I think if you are a bit scared about ruining your first doll, don't hesitate to buy a less expensive one first - as long as it's one you really like! But if you have someone you can turn to to help you with things you are scared to do at first you shouldn't really hesitate to start with your dream doll. :>

 

The same thing I think of 'Starter Guitars'. You'll eventually out grow it and want a better quality (and unfortunately) more expensive one. I think they money you put to a starter you could be putting to a doll you'll really want to keep. As time goes on you'll learn more about doll and what you like, the starter will become obsolete. Even if you find you're not into the hobby anymore a starter doll will be harder to sell- unless it's to a newbie owner.

You could always get one second hand, well looked after, and see if you like it without spending tons of money.
Don't get a cheap one just because it's cheap, get the one you'll want to keep forever.

 

I think the people who recommend starter dolls are right. When I started out I got a more expensive doll and I did a lot of damage to the doll. It gives you a sick feeling when you damage something so expensive and precious,so I think a starter doll is the best thing for newbies. But then some people might not care if they damage the expensive doll or not.

 

Being a newbie myself (go figure, XD) I definatley want to get a "starter doll" because still being in high school its hard to even get one of the cheaper dolls, some of the cheapest ones I've seen are still upwards of 100 dollars. I want to get a cheaper doll to start with, instead of saving for, for example, a Volks, because if I DO mess up, I don't want to mess up a doll I worked hard for/really liked

 

I recently got into the hobby myself and like a couple of people mentioned, bought a "starter doll" to see if I really liked BJD's - I had no intentions of experimenting on them (although I did a little over time, nothing drastic though - just added eyelashes & enhanced their faceups). Even though I do research everything to death, I had never even seen any BJD in person so it was difficult to drop hundreds on the hopes that they would live up to my expectations. I know myself and realize that after considerable research I do still make mistakes, get suckered in by one really cute photo (I've made a ton of mistakes collecting other dolls that way) so I really appreciate having access to all the user pics here. I didn't know how the resin would feel in my hands either - I've had one or two porcelain dolls in the past and absolutely could not stand the way they felt, I couldn't get rid of them fast enough! So when I started seriously thinking of buying one, I limited what I even looked at to the cheaper dolls and ended up getting two (one was a last second impulse)! Even though I did research them, I don't think I researched them quite enough and they will probably be moving on in the next few months. But still they did serve their purpose - they got me interested enough to look into other dolls I like even more.

 

I have one of the looked-down-upon "cheaper" dolls as my first doll. She still cost me around $200, which is not cheap at all for my budget! I chose her because she was not only within my budget, but I think her sculpt is absolutely stunning. Her brand is notorious for needing some work straight out of the box, but honestly, I liked that. I believe in learning about my hobbies inside and out. I like to take things apart and put them together again. That being said, if I'd gotten an extremely expensive doll first, I probably would have been too afraid of messing her up to even try to restring or suede her or modify her faceup. Is she a starter doll? I don't know. All I know is that I think she is gorgeous, and I've been happy to learn so much about BJDs with her.

 

I did not want to 'settle' when getting my first doll, but at the same time I did not want to mess up a doll I'd payed $700 for. So for my first doll, I'm getting a head that I love, and putting it on a cheaper body, to bring the cost under $200 as my starter doll. I'll still love the doll, but I won't feel as bad if I mess up his faceup or blushing the first few times.
I do think starter dolls are a good idea, if you're planning on doing mods and such. Furthermore, you'll treasure a nicer doll when you get it because you may have had to wait longer and you know how to treat it. but that's just me ^^

 

I thought that it would be a bad idea to get a "starter doll" at first, and then I ended up finding one that I liked under $300. I want to get started with this hobby and I know it would take forever for me to save up for a doll over $300, let alone over $600. I'll be interested to see whether I still feel like I've made the right choice a little while down the line if I end up investing in other BJDs.

 

Mine was used, being the main reason he was cheap. i'm a big girl, I know how to draw, I know the science behind pigments and elastic. I just really liked my simple, cheap sculpt.

 

You know, I'm sure I've posted in this thread before, but I can't remember and I can't find my post, so I'm going to post again with some updated thoughts.

I see no problem with starter dolls. Let them be vinyl, let them be less than $200, let them be your test subject. I say this because I personally don't know anyone who goes high-end when they first start something: did we get the best computer when we bought our first? Did we drop hundreds of dollars on our first sewing machine? When starting our own faceups, did we splurge on an airbrush system, or did we go to Michael's and pick out a few pastels to shave?
I know that many of us consider dolls to be different: if you're going to be spending $200 on such-and-such doll, why not just spend an extra $125 on this-and-that doll instead? Why be cheap about it? Why get low quality, or used? Dolls are special. They're extensions of ourselves. They're... blah blah blah. Everyone has their own opinion on the subject. And my dolls are special to me: They each have a story, they each are a connected to a fond memory or period of my life, and I love them. But I know that, if it wasn't for my Obitsu, I probably would not have pursued the hobby at all. And this is why I think starter dolls are a wonderful thing, no matter the company or the sculpt.
That isn't to say buy a doll because it happens to be cheap. Buy one that you know you can enjoy: be it a lovely sculpt, a well-posing body, whatever. Don't base your starter doll solely on money because you're eager to join the hobby... because even a starter doll is expensive, and you might feel like it is money wasted. I say make a list of dolls you like, and go for the cheapest one as your starter.
I'm sure I've talked about it in this thread somewhere, but my first doll was an Obitsu, and this was after three years and ogling dolls and learning what I could about them. While my obitsu is no longer part of my collection today, it was just what I needed to get into the hobby and figure out if this was something I wanted to do. I started with MSDs and YoSDs, and had a couple false starts with SDs during my first year.
I don't think starter dolls are lesser, either. I have a yoSD that cost me over $400, and he poses horribly... but I have one of the same size from Luts who poses like a dream, and he was much cheaper. The hobby isn't supposed to be about how many rare and limiteds we can display on our dollar -- it's supposed to be something personal, our own thing, and we can collect as we see fit.
So look at your list of desirable resins. Pick one for your starter doll. See if this is a hobby for you. See what you like and what you don't like. Let your tastes develop! And most of all, don't ever let the community dictate how you should collect. Hobbies are great to share, and sharing means you can learn from one another and enjoy things together, but the minute someone scoffs at your choice of resin (or vinyl) you need to remember that hobbies aren't just about community... they're about enjoying yourself.

 

May if you don't know certainly what you want and only care to have something to show in meets or to take photos... probably is a good idea. I know many people who lately fell in love with her/his first and cheap mold and never leave it.
Not my case! My first BJD was a Puki Sugar, nothing easy to restring! I sold it more than a year ago, just when I finished the custom and realized that wasn't what I wanted.

 

I got a small Hujoo for my starter before I invested in a real resin BJD just incase I screwed her up horribly, which I did with failed faceups

 

I feel like if I had got a "starter doll" instead of the doll I ACTUALLY wanted and fell in love with, I probably wouldn't have got so into the hobby as I did. I got really into it because I had picked out the doll I liked most and he was beautiful and when he arrived it was amazing and there was no way I would have done anything (ie. faceups, modding, taking him apart, etc) without checking online and making absolutely certain I knew what I was doing and people had reassured me (not that I actually did any of this until my 3rd doll). I don't think I'd have got the same experience if I had picked a cheaper doll that I liked less just so that I could mess around with it more.