Dolls that *aren't* for beginners?

I guess it is easy to say that certain dolls are a tad too much for beginners to handle, what with restringing, sueding and any other complications that may crop up, however, not all beginners are going to stuggle. While I do agree that there will be beginners who will shy away from anything that involves anything that revolves around taking a doll apart and changing it in anyway whatsoever. I also know that some people will automatically finds these things come naturally to them, or it won't take too long for them to come to grips with things.

That's why I don't think that there aren't any specific doll that isn't suitable for newbies. It all depends on the person, not the doll.

Well, there's my two pennies thrown into the discussion

 

There is enough information on the official websites to know the size of the doll, how many joints it has, and the measurements of the body and head (for clothes and wigs). And anything not known, such as maybe the type of resin used can be found out through the doll makers via email, or their Q&A board. I mean I agree that some dolls will provide a challenge, but why should that stop anyone, new or not from buying one? Plus, if you get a complex doll as your first doll, it's not like you know the difference. You don't have an easier doll to compare with

As I keep repeating a half million times, it's about what you're willing to personally do/try/learn with your dolls, and not about how long you've been in the hobby.

 

While ig et what you mean here, i still stand by what i've said earlier and think Nefla's right. Whether you bought the dolls you'd researched, or the one you fell in love with and bought right off, you did research. You knew that the doll would be capable of coming apart, that it was held together with elastic, that the eyes came out, and so on. At the most very basic concept, a bjd is a bjd, a doll that is strung together that is completley customizable and so on. You knew that already, so technically, you'd done your homework already on the dolls and knew what to expect in that sense. You took the chance withthe mold and the company, and thats not exactly the same as just buying a doll on a whim without knowing a single thing about them at all.

What i was saying, and i'm sure Nefla meant too, was that you--or anyone with a decent amount of sense, IMHO--wouldnt be willing to spend that 500$ without knowing that the doll wasnt just your ordinary childs type of doll. It'd be kinda silly to see a doll, decide it was pretty and you wanted it, and just up and send off 500$ to the other side of the world for an item you knew nothing about, right?



Jescissa: Ok, that makes sense why you took it as an attack then >< sorry about that, it really wasn't intentional ^^; With that clarified, I do agree with you. I suppose thats what i get for being dumb and jumping into the thread without reading most of it @_@ I'll....have to take care of that and catch up. I really didnt' mean to single you out at all, and if i managed to insult/offend/attack you, i serioulsy didnt mean it

I'm curious though, when you got your first doll, what did you know when you bought the doll and if anything else surprised you when you got it or learned more about bjds? And did you get information somewhere else, rather than doa? Ack, i'm probably being too nosey. Ignore that if you want

 

True, but if you're going to experience those things eventually, why do it on an "easy" doll rather than the doll you really want? I'm personally a lot more inspired to do faceups on, and make clothes for dolls I think are gorgeous. Also, I don't know about you, but I found the process of learning and improving to be fun it's part of the whole experience.

 

I'm gonna say a Bobobie if you are not gun ho on doing suedeing and re-stringing right away. Their poseability takes some tinkering.

 

if it was me, i would get the doll i like the most even if he ore she is more difficult to handle etc.
i would find someone to help me.
i don,t think you should buy a doll that you like less just because it,s easier.

 

I'm not sure about the idea of dolls being too much to handle for a beginner... If you don't learn how to handle your doll, whoever it may be, then you'll never gain experience... Does that make sense? I guess in my case, the Unoa kit was the second doll I purchased, and quite soon after my first, and I have never never regretted it. Even though I was a complete beginner to BJDs, I learned tonnes of useful skills, like how to sand her seams and how to assemble her. Because of the Unoa kit I stopped being afraid to handle my first dolll, who I'd just left on a shelf before then. Now I can restring any of my babies without fear and I love to mod, since I've learned what a doll can or can't handle. So I'd say, rather than holding back as a beginner, do your research well but never hesitate to get the doll you really want since you'll gain experience no matter what.

 

I agree it depends entirely on the person. My friends first doll is a bobobie and I modded, restrung, and sueded that doll and that was before I had my own..Mine is a hybrid that came face-upless, eyeless, wigless- everything, but I did it all myself. Its just not a big deal to me because of the way I approached the hobby before I got one. I was a little intimidated at first but after being forced to string him because his body was sent to me unstrung, I kinda left my fears at the door after that.

I think one of the reasons people get freaked out is because of how on this site, there are tutorials for EVERYthing. When I see a tutorial, I think "oh no, that's so hard it needs a tutorial" and so I get gripped out... but truthfully a lot of things about these dolls are common sense, and after I had done them, it was a lot easier than I expected...

Well thats in my opinion, because that's how it was for me.

 

Maybe you can consider the sculpt's form for the first time ... I have seen some dolls are 'easier' to restring and take care of than others so it would be great getting used to one ... this way you can be familiar with the hobby and if you plan to have more, you will be confident enough handling it no matter the type of joints, body type, skin or resin ^^

And definitely agree with the idea ... no SOOM Monthly Dolls, french resin or special limited edition bjd's ... they're expensive and maybe won't give the owner the confidence to treat them ... but well it's just a vague opinion ... I also think it depends in the person ...

 

I actually purchased a Volkes MSD Hisui kit and assembled it myself (with little to no trouble) as my first doll. It was quite a gutsy thing to do for a beginner, but I feel confident having her now in-case something goes wrong, or I have to re-string her, or any other dolls that I may buy. Not to mention I feel absolutely bonded with her.
So yes, I guess I was a little stupid making that my first doll, but that didn't make her any less special. I think it made her more special, and a great learning experience for me!

 

Thank you! I'm apparently pretty crazy, seeing as how I got a Soom Beryl as my first doll. I know that it's a risk, getting something limited with a crazy leg system for my first, but it was that fact that helped me get used to doing anything to other dolls. Now, I can unstring, and restring Jay in 20 minutes, and helped a ton of people at the last AZ meet unstring and restring thier dolls. It wasn't a limited doll to me, to be honest. I got her totally blank, so if I wanted anything done with her, I had to jump in feet first and just swim. She was apart, modded (hooves sanded down) and fully faceupped within a week of owning her.

I think it came down to what I loved as my first. I just happened to fall for a seriously limited, new system doll, and I had to get used to all the pratfalls of being a doll owner, on top of learning all the special quirks that make up the Beryl mold. Like Luminacera, I'm more bonded to Jay because I had to learn as I went with her, had to do all the stuff to her.

Now, I will admit, if you're not a fully-hands-on type person, like I am, a Soom MD can indeed be totally overwhelming, and I'll fully admit, I've gotten many, many injuries from Jay that I don't think most owners have, but she's what I fell for first, and I don't regret it.

 

God what a load of drama and horsecrap back a page or so.

Buy the doll you want, end of statement. They really aren't that fragile, or mine would be shattered by now. Lazy is okay, you don't HAVE to do everything to enjoy a hobby in your own way. And it's damned petty of people to say you aren't a real collector/enthusiastic if you don't do this or that...

 

I was helping a friend change Sard's hooves. It was her first stringing thing. It was really difficult. I really wouldn't recommend it for beginners because of that sort of thing, but hey, you can get used to anything, right?

 

I must have missed that part. There were two sides of an argument, but I don't recall anyone saying anything of the sort.

 

I think you just need to buy what you're interested in.

I was never interested in BJD until extremely recently. There was the uncanny valley issue for me. To me, so many BJD try to look so real that they end up looking not real, if that makes sense. It made them look a little creepy and odd to me. Then a website I regularly read posted pictures of the Volks DD Rin doll and from the moment I saw that picture I fell in love. I started doing research from that very day. I had to wait a few weeks until I could actually enter into the lottery so I had time to think if I wanted to spend over $500 on a doll and jump into this hobby. But everytime I saw pictures of that doll I fell in love all over again.

I successfully won her but I won't actually get her until July. Will I regret it then? I doubt it. I'm super excited and the more I learn about her and the doll hobby, the more I want her. Also, looking at BJD more, that uncanny valley issue that bothered me before doesn't anymore. I can now see these dolls as beautiful. I think I just needed to fall in love with a doll to help me look at them differently.

I can't imagine getting into the hobby without falling head over heels in love with a doll and then going for that one. Don't let price scare you. Save up if you have to.

 

I've been curious about this for a while, while contemplating my first doll.
Soom are gorgeous, and I almost made a Sabik my first a while ago.
But ahh... the whole 'profession or hobby?' question springs to mind.
doll owning will always be just a hobby, but I certainly think that some dolls are for the more serious hobbyists.

still, doesnt mean i'd tell anyone not to buy a $2000 doll they desparately want just because its 'too pro for you'
On the other hand, and im bordering on hypocritical here, You wouldnt make your first car a Mercedes Benz, would you?
I think with all things in life, start off small.

 

Get what you like Dolls aren't cars, and there is no such thing as a 'professional doll'--this whole thing is a hobby, with all of us being hobbyists and bjds are made to be tinkered with by their hobbyist owners.

 

I would go for a 1/4th doll, I got my 1/4 doll from Angell-Studio, they are very nice and you can e-mail them at

[email protected] and they always respond.

 

Oh HECK YES I would! If I had the money? You damn well BET I would've bought a Benz as my first car. Also woulda been the only car I drove for a loooooong time. But then again, luxury/import cars and their workings don't intimidate me.

To me, that's what it comes down to -- what's your intimidation level with a doll? Would it be something that you'd be scared to touch/pose/customize/take apart? If you're seriously spooked by the idea of getting all hands-on with a certain type of doll, then maybe you might want to begin with something else -- but if you're perfectly fine with jumping in the deep end and messing around with something considered more complicated then go for it. Imho, the only 'not for a beginner' dolls are those that particular beginner feels too overwhelmed by to start with.

To continue the car analogy, if you love Mercedes but the high-tech, high-performance, high-maintenance aspect is intimidating to you...then buy something smaller/simpler to maintain first. If you're too excited by the prospect of driving a shiny E320 to care about any possible learning curve, then by all means buy that there Mercedes first.

(This is, of course, assuming money is no object. XD)

 

i love the way you said that in your post! but i am basically just repeating what everyone else has already said, how un-unique of me.

but definitly not french resin, second hand dolls, or unoa kits. the soom monthlys i think would depend on the person. but i think it is important to go through the process of learning to order from a doll company, and get a dolls with polyurethane resin. mainly because there is a lot of info on how to take care of dolls in that category. unoas are difficult to attain in general, but putting them together by yourself as a new doll owner could be so daunting. i wouldn't want someone to be intimidated by a doll needing more care and then deciding that BJDs are to much work you know?

 

Agreed, i would not want a kit doll or a above 70 cm doll as a first doll.

 

I don't think such a doll exists. I know someone who's getting their first BJD soon and she picked a 72cm Dragon Doll Hong-Li (not uncle so I don't thing extra um...Bits are coming with it) and she's really excited.

 

I actually don't think you should limit yourself unless you want to. Whichever doll you choose, the first is probably going to have some sort if shock value, but it will also be the doll you get used to first and most comfortable with! So if you want to collect big EIDs, get an EID first! If you want to challenge yourself and buy Unoa kits, go for it! It's going to be a learning curve no matter what, so buy the doll you're willing to make the effort for.

 

In my opinion the Dollzone Azura fullset falls into this category. He was very expensive for me at the time (over $800). But he was gorgeous! The photos sold me. Bad move, eh? He arrived in TWO huge boxes. One for the doll and one for his outfit and giant black wings. I tried to get him dressed right but it was just too much. I packed him away and that was that. I eventually sold him at a small loss to a collector in Belgium. He was only my 4th or 5th doll and was way too detailed for me. Gorgeous, fabulous, but not for me! I have never bought another doll based solely on the manufacturer's photos.

 

My first doll was a hybrid. Without a faceup. And the body was one that needed to be taken apart and sueded and fixed up and restrung right away in order for it to work its best. (Mirodoll). I purchased both body and head directly from the individual companies and put the whole thing together myself from scratch. That Mirodoll body and Elfdoll head were the first BJD parts I had ever seen outside of a computer screen in my life. And I had an absolutely incredible amount of fun taking the body apart and figuring out how to make it work better and painting the faceup and putting that hybrid together. It was like building a little person from a kit. I'm sure there are plenty of people who, had I asked first, would have told me that was just not for a "beginner". But it was perfect for me. I personally don't find BJD intimidating in the least, in any aspect. Someone who does, might want to approach it differently. But it's faulty to assume that just because someone isn't an experienced collector, they should limit themselves to certain types of dolls or avoid others.

 

For 'complete' beginners, I wouldn't recommend a doll they would have to sand, drill and assemble themselves - and is rare on top. One mistake... and the whole doll might be ruined...
Nah, definitly not what I'd recommend for newbies. At all.

Other than that... all is fair game and depends on the people, I'd say.

 

I don't know what exactly the best fro beginner but probably something that not too expensive but have good review.

There's a chance that the doll isn't cared correctly and if it's expensive, some will regret buying it, afraid to bring it outside or even afraid to play with it.
If it cheap but doesn't have good review, one can be bored by its poseability or sculpt that isn't their cup of tea.

 

I think it would be a disservice to new hobbyists to say any dolls were "off-limits" as a first doll.

It is true that starting out in this hobby there can be a lot of mental hurdles to overcome, the common fears that have been mentioned repeatedly here: faceups, restringing, yellowing, etc.
But the thing is&#8230;if you buy a doll that you really like&#8230;then if something does come up (say you need to re-string it) then seeing the doll you love need something will push you to do it.

All dolls have quirks. We learn to work with them, that's what we all learn to do in this hobby. Hehe. Buy whatever doll you want! ^__^

 

I find that there are some dolls are more difficult to handle than others though, so I wouldn't recommend them for newbies. Some dolls are definitely more "user-friendly" than others.

What the average newbie wants is a doll that will stand and look good right from the box, and won't require painting or other fiddling (restringing, etc). Fitting into a variety of clothes that look good is a huge bonus here. Buying something that needs work means a high probability of getting frustrated because the doll won't stand, etc., and that means giving up on the hobby entirely out of sheer frustration. Buying something that is hard to fit for clothing is likewise a huge issue; if there's no clothes, someone who can't sew is going to have a problem.

 

personally, I think second-hand dolls are perfect for beginners. Sid's second hand, and as such I felt a lot less worried about accidentally ruining him because I didn't pay as much as i would have for a brand new doll. It made me feel far freer to experiment with him- and from knowing pretty much nothing about BJDs, I restrung him, blushed him, gave him a faceup... Although I'm nowhere near professional level (I can say that again > <) I really do think it was liberating.

 

I'd probably warn a real newbie away from a DIY kit-type doll, just because there can be a lot of work involved in making those "ready for prime time" so to speak, but as long as they know what they're getting into, I don't think I'd try to talk them out of a large doll, one with a lot of fiddly parts or one that might take some practice or simple adjustments (restringing or wiring, for instance-) to learn to pose.

 

Any dolls that come in kits. Unoa, Soom christmas kits, etc.
More expensive dolls might need to be avoided if you're not confident that you will stay in the hobby or you don't have a lot of money and there are cheap dolls you want...

 

First MSD was second hand so didn't feel like I had to handle him with kit gloves, second MSD was a hybrid I put together myself, third MSD another hybrid but second hand...Actually all three MSD's are second hand, none are new...I kind of like that pattern to be honest. XD; Makes me feel like I have to worry less because they've already seen a lot.

 

For me, I would choose a doll which is already assembled and has face up because from my experience, I'm really bad at doing face up. All the results look so terrible that I shame of myself. And for assembled doll because...for newbie like I, it's hard and quite dangerous to assemble them together. I wouldn't want my first doll being a victim because of my lacking of practice and BJD knowledge.

 

Personally, I think a beginner should start out in any way they like, be it a standard doll, a hybrid or a doll kit. Yes, of course hybrids and kits can be very complicated to assemble but that shouldn't discourage a person to try their hand on it.

I get where people are coming from they they voice concerns like: "What if the beginner messes up and damages this f****ing expensive doll beyond repair and loses interest etc.?!". However, there's a huge but in there for me.
This hobby is darn expensive, there's no way around it. And if someone's interested in picking it up, I (just speaking for myself here) would assume they'd make sure to educate themselves on this matter first before making uninformed purchases. Being good informed is a key here and if they are and are willing to tackle this, go for it. But if they did not inform themselves and messed up - well, that's their own fault. Fail and learn. Or fail and give up.

 

I don't think any doll is off limits, you're only limited by your own comfort level. Granted, you should have some basic knowledge under your belt of what NOT to do, say, you don't draw on your LE doll's face with sharpies because it would be harder to replace. As long as you're careful with your doll and understand what you can/can't do with it, then anything goes!

 

I think everyone should get whichever doll they want. It shouldn't matter if you are new to the hobby or not.

 

I wouldn't get an expensive doll unless you were ~*true love*~ dead set on it. Get a doll that you really like obviously, but if you're spending $500 you'd better be darned sure of what you're doing. This is a weird hobby that isn't for everyone and you might not know that until you actually get your doll. I'd probably also get a doll on the smaller side, partially because you can get a really nice doll for not as much money and partially because display/storage is much easier for smaller dolls. I would probably recommend a doll at least 15 cm because the really small dolls can be tricky to fiddle with and I probably wouldn't recommend a doll much over 40cm unless you really want one. I think the best thing you can do is to see whatever dolls you can in person to get a feel for what size they are and what they really look like. If the person you're talking to has time, ask if they can show off the body, how it moves, and what the inside of the head looks like. Handle it if they offer, but don't ask. The stuff I've bought online feels different from what I expected, not in a bad way, but it can be really hard to see if you like a face sculpt unless you're looking at it from multiple angles and there's a difference between knowing something is 12 cm tall and seeing a doll that is 12 cm tall. Also I would highly recommend getting a doll with a faceup and get a cheap head (doesn't even have to be resin, even dollar store fake barbies would be a good start) to practice on until you're comfortable making them.

None of these are hard and fast rules, if you've got your heart on a giant Volks doll or a pukipuki go for it, but if you just want to start in the hobby and are looking for something to try that's what I would do.

 

I guess I would say that dolls that are incredibly frustrating to string would not be the best choice for a first doll. Dolls like DC Elizabeth, centaurs, dolls under 16cm, that kind of thing. Probably also secondhand "project dolls"; dolls that would *require* heavy modding and restoration in order to make them presentable again. But hey, do what y'all like.

 

I know this wasn't the case for lots and lots of people who bought them back in the day, but I don't know how any newbie ever dealt with a Lovelyhouse SD-size body. Even as a veteran doll collector/poser/what have you, my newest boy gives me all kinds of trouble with his joints popping out of place, not being able to stand... He's going to need extreme sueding if not wiring and I don't know if I'd have felt comfortable doing that when I was new to BJDs.

 

I second the comment about DC dolls. I have a DC Barbara and as much as I didn't have to string her from scratch, those tendrils on her head were fiddly and confusing to attach. I can imagine someone unfamilar with the hobby would be able to work it out too, but they might be terrified of breaking her or the extra parts and of course loosing the tiny s-hooks that go onto the end of each tendril (it's a good job they send a lot of extras)!

That and DC Ada is delightfully tiny, but restringing a miniscule centaur doll is best left to someone with a little more experience

 

Anything that's confusing to string. Or, dolls that come needing new string. I've heard things about ResinSoul, which are typical 'start dolls', but sometimes people freak out because they need to be tightened, or need new string in general x_x;

There's also the issue of posing. Depending on what you are getting your doll for, be it for photographs or just to have sitting on your shelf to keep you company, posing can be an issue. There are some dolls that stand well, others that don't. And, there's also dolls that sit better than others. My IH SID Lee is TERRIBLE at sitting!!!!

Balance was a thing for me. My first doll was an HZ, and he was an excellent poser and easy to stand. But then I got in some soom dolls and I went to stand them and it was like... yikes!!! I don't have a problem now, but when I first started with soom, aside from having to tighten every single doll, standing was always super difficult.

With the issue of DC... it depends on the doll. If you get one of the dolls that aren't crazily jointed and don't have any extra parts, they're actually really great dolls! My Oort, Pierre, hughs, and Jodie are super easy to stand and pose.

I also don't recommend dollmore dolls as starter dolls. They can be a little floppy.

Wow this is really long. I'll stop here. xD

 

Not only this, but there's a problem with clothings. If you are to buy a doll with unique measurements you'd have much harder time finding articles that will work for your dolls, and either have to make seperate orders or pick up sewing yourself.

 

I think it depends on what the new hobbyist wants out of his or her doll. If they want to sew they should avoid dolls in odd sizes that have limited patterns available. If they want a doll that poses well for photostories and the like they should avoid dolls that are known for being difficult to pose. If they want to mod a doll then maybe a very expensive LE would be a poor choice. The thing is, some newbies jump right in without doing research and that could lead to disappointment. It did for me. I bought my first doll because I'd seen a beautiful custom of the sculpt, but my girl arrived with a very bland default faceup and was so bad at posing I couldn't get her to do anything. If I'd read about the company's dolls before I took the plunge I might not have bought that doll as my first. I eventually sold her.

 

I think if you just bought a doll (any size) on a whim without researching anything about the company or know anything about the size and requirements...then I would say it's not suitable for you. But if you did enough research, knew all the pitfalls, you have space, money, tools to take care of the doll, then I'ld say you were ready.

If you have a couple of dolls in mind, maybe start with the smallest size and gradually move up from there. For me, it was from a YOSD and tiny straight to Iplehouse EID and Soom Idealian. But I used my wall and made markings so I knew exactly how tall they were going to be compared with my YOSD so I knew and was ready.

 

I agree with this. I started with Soom fantasy doll. She was the first doll I ever held, and I didn't have any problems. I strung her with fantasy parts just going off of YouTube restringing videos. If you prepare yourself, do the research, and have the patience, almost any doll would be fine for a beginner.

 

Agree completely with Doll Chateau. Hilary is easy too deal with. Christina and Dolores are NOT. I love those two dolls.
And their extra joints, but not for the fearful.

 

For me, I researched first, and had a chase to go to a doll meet to see how big they really are, and decided that MSD was best. The 60-70 dolls were so big! I wasn't sure I would have space for them!

But I'd agree with most people on the simpler the better, and steer clear of unusual resin colors as well. I have grown to love the darker resin (especially since they can be hard to find) but as a newbie, I would have found then a bit intimidating.

Also maybe mods would be bad if buying second hand? I got both of my dolls second hand, and they are in great condition. I liked that I could have a conversation with them and ask them questions when i still had no idea how to go about it. I was lucky to buy them from very nice and patient people.

 

Dolls with multiple legs like centaurs and the DC Spider might be a little overwhelming for a first time buyer. I don't see why you shouldn't get one though. Just because something is tricky at first doesn't mean it's impossible.

 

The simple answer is that the doll you don't research is not the one for a beginner. Know the company, look at tons of user photos especially if you plan to buy a company face-up, and consider known problems about the dolls and if you are ready for them. As long as you go in with your eyes open, I don't really think there's any doll that absolutely cannot be someone's first doll.

 

OMG I second the adopted doll thing! My first doll was second hand and she arrived FILTHY!

 

Research is the most important thing, I think. That and knowing your own comfort level. Although for someone very new to dolls in general, I'd recommend buying from one of the better-known companies and sticking to a standard size. It just makes it easier finding accessories and clothes, as well as other owners for pics and advice.

I wouldn't recommend buying a first doll secondhand unless you know and trust the person you're buying from. That said, my first doll came to me third-hand. She's not "perfect," but I knew her history and quirks before I bought her and I love her to pieces.

 

I don't agree with the notion that a beginner should avoid or purchase certain dolls. The beginner should research and find a doll that suits them, no matter what anyone says. I'd rather see them get a doll they absolutely love than get a "cheap" doll because that's typical for the hobby or avoid a doll that might be too big, hard to string, or what have you.

If they get a more complicated doll, it might be harder for them, but we all have to learn sometime.

 

I don't know that I'd say "absolutely not" to secondhand dolls, but I might advise more caution with them for a beginner than with a new-from-the-company doll. My experience with secondhand dolls has been a mixed bag; I own a total of four currently. One came nearly brand new and in perfect condition (only one flaw, discovered later, that was a manufacturing flaw unnoticed by the original owner). One came older but well-loved and well-cared for, from a local collector who's excited to see her impending makeover. One came badly damaged, with damage fully disclosed before I accepted him, and is being beautifully repaired by a modder here on DoA. And one came listed as "slight even yellowing," who was filthy, with destroyed stringing, and severe, uneven yellowing. I had the patience to repair him and he's now a beloved part of my collection, but if he'd been someone's first doll, he might've turned them off from at least the secondhand market entirely, if not the whole hobby--especially if he went to one of the many people I see who are terrified to even change their dolls eyes, much less do a full restringing.

However, that's really only 25% of my secondhand dolls (and 20% of transactions, as the badly damaged doll was acquired as a head only and had to have a body procured) that have been negative, and 50% (40% total) that would not be the best deals for a beginner. Two full dolls and one body were still in perfect condition, and would be great for a beginner! So it's mainly a matter of proceeding with caution. (As well as, of course, the general caveats against recasts in the secondhand market.)

 

Secondhand doll, coz beginner may not know how to identify a recast bjd

 

I would think that taur dolls might be difficult for beginners.

 

IMHO that'd be any soom gem dolls as they arrive as a build-it-yourself constuctor . Beginners will be very puzzled upon seeing this stuff when opening the doll .

 

My first ball-jointed doll was a second-hand full-set. Sure, there were some flaws that a new doll might not have had but that made me even more excited about her. For example: I was so nervous but proud at the same time when I had to glue in her eyelashes for the first time. Might be a stupid little thing but it made her feel like mine even more.

I still don't think I would have been happier with a new doll as my first...

There's not a single doll that wouldn't be suitable for a beginner. Beginners come in all different characters just like dolls come in all different sizes and shapes. You just have to find the doll you love the most and go for it!