I have 3 essential instruments:
My white Rickenbacker 4001 bass, which my dad helped my buy.
My fireglo Rickenbacker 4001 bass, which I bought with the money my Grandfather left me.
A Fender USA Strat I bought with the money my stepmother left me. (My ex-wife gave me a hard time for wanting to waste my money on that when things needed doing to the house or whatever - she's gone and I've still got the guitar and the house...)
I've got one or two others which are keepers:
My black Rickenbacker 4003, which seems to be my go-to bass.
My Strat partscaster with a Warmoth neck.
I've also got about 50 others, which I quite like having about the place.