I started collecting instruments around 12 years ago. I was in a secure position, kids grown up and gone etc, so dabbled.
I made a few bob buying and selling, lost a few bob as fashions ebb and flow, so just bought stuff that appeals to me.
I started as a bassist back in the 1980's and have still got my '84 4003 in Blue which is not going anywhere.
I faffed about with guitars for some years though, and have acquired a few including a Flying V, Les Paul Classic, and have recently sold my PRS Tremonti. There's a couple of PRS SE Models in the mix too....a limited Bernie Marsden ( the first run, it's number 5 of only 25 with all the case candy, signed lyric sheet to "Here I go Again", the numbered truss rod cover and an autogrpahed autobiography....I met the man at an open evening at Sound Affects in Ormskirk a few years ago and got to jam with him for an hour...cool!) and a superb Torero which is a shred machine with real EMG's and a proper Floyd Rose.
The bass collection grew to include a tobacco sunburst 2015 Music Man Sting Ray 4 with rosewood fingerboard that I traded another Les Paul against, which is the bass I play the most.
Also in the collection:
Yamaha BX-1 Headless from the 80's
1989 Vigier Passion 2 ( or is t a 4? Can never remember) that requires completing back to near standard
A 2005 Status Smartbass with graphite neck ( Body has seen some bar fights! but the neck is awesome)
A Warwick German made 2005 Double Buck in Ovangkol (?)
And a Korean made Epiphone Thunderbird