What do you think of "starter dolls?"

In general, I think a person's first doll should be one they really want, regardless of price - so I agree with what many of you are saying.

 

It depends on where you're coming from.

I had collected other dolls for years before getting into this, so I mainly wanted a practice doll to try things out. Were they more difficult to string than the antiques I was used to? Is this much different from painting vinyl? Did I like the posing/standing/etc? So I bought what was for me a cheap doll -- a Volks MSD kit -- and ran with it.

The poor thing got dragged to every doll show in the area, had at least six faceups that I recall, and got restrung repeatedly until I figured out the correct tension for his size and material. Then I bought a Volks girl that I adored because of her fantasy ears, started selling off most of the other dollies, and left the first bjd in the back of the doll cabinet for several years. He was the first to get packed up when we moved, never got unpacked, and finally got sold off because I was done with him. I never intended to keep him that long, so for me a cheap "starter doll" was exactly what I wanted.

If they had been available back then, I wouldn't have bought what I frequently see recommended as "starter dolls" because frankly, they are cheap and have issues with the materials, etc. They aren't IMO a good example of this type of doll and something like that isn't what I wanted to see by buying a bjd.

 

I think a lot of it depends on the person and what they want to do with it. My first doll was Z, my incredibly lovely Dollzone girl. I got the body second hand and the head new, so she was less expensive. I had a friend do her face up and my doll pals showed me the basics. If you don't have friends or experienced doll owners to show you the ropes, a "starter" doll might be good just to get a basic feel down on stringing, hot glue seuding, etc. However, if you feel comfortable diving right in, then I'd go with that.

The only recommendation I'd make concerns face ups/any mark up and modding. That you might want to try first on something not so expensive and research a lot before touching the actual doll, especially if the doll is expensive.

 

Personally, I thought it best to save up for an ideal doll I new I would keep and cherish. I eventually got an SD13 Yori, and she does have nicks in the eye wells from aggressively removing hot-glued eyes ^^; as well as a damaged foot from toe separation. A starter doll may have prevented this, but I don't think I would have enjoyed it nearly as much.

 

I'm still in that starter doll phase. I have mixed feelings about it
On the one hand as I bought her second hand and did my own face up I was able to get into the hobby and not break my bank. On the other hand I still pine for all the much prettier limited dolls which I still can't afford.

But for the most part I am happy with what I have. I can still challenge myself to make more intricate outfits for her and maybe I might even redo her face up.

 

I have done both. I have sometimes bought a starter doll to see if I liked the kind-but find that my tastes change with time- my problem is that I almost always fall in love with the little starters and can't seem to part with them. I generally try to save my money and then buy the doll I have really been dreaming of instead of a less expensive starter.

 

I'm defintantly planning on getting some kind of start doll when i get the money. I'm looking at the dollfie dream series, possibly minis or possibly something else that's cheap but neat.

 

I started up in this hobby a bit unwittingly, and without any knowledge of the DoA forums at all (or the concept of something like "starter dolls"); my first doll is absolutely something almost everyone would consider a "starter doll," a Bobobie MSD. And his price was part of what made me take the jump to get him--but it wasn't the only thing. I loved his face, it was perfect for what I wanted, and still is. Yes, he was quirky and took some getting used to; yes, he had to have a stringing adjustment/restring right away; yes, I didn't get him standing on his own for almost a solid year (while my next three all stood for me immediately); no, I do not regret getting him. I still have him and have no plans to part with him, and while I did recently replace his body, the one he has now is quirky as well--the replacement was because there's enough choices that I can start scaling my dolls to each other better than when I started. I've since moved into a much higher personal price limit for my dolls, now that I know I'm comfortable with them (to a certain point, my most expensive one was resold later), but for me personally, the "starter doll" worked out perfectly for me.

But it won't work for everyone.

Still, I think people should know themselves well enough to know if it's a good idea or not. If there's a "cheap" doll you know you can love, if the prices of some of them make you cringe or feel like you'd be scared to handle them, if somehow you're like me and buying one for a sewing model, not because you have any intention of joining the hobby at all, then a "starter" might not be such a bad idea. If, however, you're comfortable with the prices, and love a more expensive model, then by all means, don't settle. Just don't accuse those of us with less expensive dolls of settling, either; I haven't "settled" for a single doll in my collection, they've all been chosen because they fit my vision. The "cheap" ones and the "expensive" ones.

 

For me a Starter Resin was my Resinsoul Song and I still adore him, he's my baby...I still need to restring and suede him again but he means the world to me...And he's been nearly everywhere and through a lot with me. He was exactly what I wanted when I wasn't sure. I'm happy I got him instead of getting the Kid Delf I almost got.

 

I originally started the hobby with 3D printed nylon dolls which are a lot different so when I decided I wanted to try resin I did get a "starter" doll. I got her second hand on Ebay for a very reasonable price (her type is under $200 new anyway). I've painted her face up twice (one time having a mishap with remover stains) but I've always been able to restore her back to looking fabulous. She sits in the CEO position in my doll crew and she's more than earned it.

I wouldn't buy a doll because you feel pressured to do so but for me I like my dolls like I like my Pokemon..gotta have a starter.

 

I love this way of thinking. My starter Pokemon are always my favorites of my teams. XD

 

I think it's a waste of money to not get a doll you really want and instead get a "starter doll" because you're new.

 

I spent a long time looking & reseaching before I ordered my first doll. I don't think DollZone dolls are in the stereotypica 'starter' section (just the more affordable). She is DZ Annie on a small busted, double jointed body. I never considered 'starter dolls' as such because for me buying a doll in the first place was a bit out of character (hadn't been into them since i was 8), and secondly anything over £50 seemed hugely expensive to me then so it made little difference on the guilt factor. I quickly decided that if I was going to be mad enough to pay out £100 to have one with eyes, wig ect then I might as well say sod the price and buy one i really loved as otherwise I could never justify it to myself. I DID have a top budget; not over £300 for the doll itself blank.
I spend aaages contemplating sculpts and being reeally fussy because I was nervous about committing to buying one. I was very close to buying a Sugarble doll but the tiny size for extreme seeming price worried me, although the deciding factor was difficulty getting clothes I wanted that would fit. In the end my mind was made up as i scanned back over MSDs on ThinkPink! and it occured to me that their Annie really reminded me of the main character i was struggling to form for a story i'm trying to tell. By the end of the day i'd written a 1st draft prologue and a load more character info, a little look into suitable wigs & clothes and I was decided. I didn't want to do the face-up myself as she would be my first AND meant to be a specific character. I knew i'd drive myself nuts failing to get her right, which might put me off. For that reason i decided to commission a custom face-up. I think this is a good option for newbies with specific characters in mind, saves on the frustration and you can start sketching your character from the doll, doing photoshoots ect right away.
Interestingly I have always been drawn to Resinsoul/Bobobie heads, but the simplicity of the bodys (and their poor posing reputation) and the fact that the eyes never seem to sit perfectly unless you mod the sockets, put me off. Everytime I see a Song going cheap i'm tempted tho, there's just something about him. I think perhapse these dolls are not 'starter' dolls at all as they require more work to perfect. I think I'm more likely to buy one once i've practised modding ect so I know I can create what I envision.
I don't think anyone intends to offend newbs by suggesting 'starter' dolls, as a few people have said, you don't know how much someone really wants a doll, especially if they have no specific idea of which ones they like so the highest priced ones are possible not easy to reccomend. I have absolutely no intention of taking any less care with my first girl than I would with a limited Soom.
My advice for newbies is:
-Have a really good look around, preferably go to a meet because seeing in person really helps you know what size you like! Know what you're looking for.
- Use your brain and common sense when setting a budget etc
- Then follow your heart/instincts =)

 

I suppose I could call my first BJD a "starter doll" as I got her blank and unstrung. To some degree I have/will learn with her, but I got her because I like her not because I was avoiding taking a bigger risk.

 

I have mixed feelings about the concept of a starter doll. I guess if you are going to do your own face ups it would certainly help to start slowly if you have never done them before. Maybe it wouldn't be wise to do your first face up on a 1000.00 doll. Yikes. I am ever going to be doing face up on my own and, I have no plans to actually customize a doll on my own. My first doll was an inexpensive one, but it was one I loved. I am a believer in buy fewer dolls and buy better dolls. If one can't afford to get into this hobby then try to find and inexpensive doll you can enjoy until you can. I am just not so sure that fits a starter doll really. The inexpensive dolls can be just as fun and precious as the expensive dolls. Honestly, even the inexpensive dolls get expensive by the time you buy a wig, clothing, shoes, accessories and pay for the face up. That can take it past an affordable price right away. Maybe there is not really a cheap doll out there by the time you are done with it. This really is just an issue of will you be customizing on your own or not.

 

I am not sure a 'starter doll' is a good way to start this hobby. It depends on the individual's expectations. I am very lucky to have fallen for a Littlefee as my first doll. My last doll is a cheap BJD and though I love her, I would have felt very disappointed if she had been my first BJD: she is too lose, the maker forgot to pack her eyes and clothes are difficult to find for her.

 

I'm personally glad I went for a "starter doll". I wasn't familiar with the sizing as I'm used to fashion dolls or smaller ABS dolls. So I purchased a 2nd hand AoD You. I wasn't in love with the sculpt, but when I saw him his name and personality just popped out at me. Well now that I have Leekos, I have sadly found that I think I am more comfortable with 30cm or smaller dolls as his 47cm height is just too much for me and I'm finding it really hard to bond to him. So now that I know that I've invested in a couple YoSD sized sculpts that I really love! ^__^

I feel that making that first purchase was a good idea so I could get a feel for things. Not investing too much from the get go turned out better for me so I could learn! I've learned how to do a basic face-up, body blushing, some light restringing, suadeing, etc without worrying on messing up a doll I was completely in love with. Sorry Leekos! x3 I admit price point did come into things for my first, but less because of "quality" (as Leekos didn't disappoint there anyways) and more because of I didn't wanna break something while learning and not be able to replace it as easily. Because honestly most of the dolls I've been finding I like are "cheaper" dolls (In my case under 300$) anyways. lol

 

I'm not sure if I got a starter doll, but all I know is that when I got him her was perfect in terms of posing. I didn't try doing face ups until I got a, I guess what would be called a "starter doll." Modding a more expensive doll is just super scary. x.x; Though honestly, I don't think starter dolls really exist. I mean if another company comes up with good but cheap dolls, wouldn't those become "starter dolls" too?

 

My first and only doll is a RS Mei, a common starter doll. I will admit I had my eye on a fairyland mnf chloe but settled on mei simply because chloe was WAY out of my reach...But I did end up really loving my Mei and I'm glad to have a doll on the cheaper side as my first doll so if I practice stuff on her and mess up I won't accidentally ruin a doll I saved up months for! I don't think people should just settle on a doll with bad quality or something though just because they can't afford a nice doll at the moment. Thankfully I really wanted a RS mei in the first place so I didn't fall out of love with her!

 

I couldn't even consider to get a starter doll if it meant that 200$ would be spend on a doll I like so-so instead of going to the price of my dream doll...