I'd definitely recommend checking out some of the less 'heritage' guitar brands, if value for money is something that matters a lot to you. In terms of emulating your heroes, Fender, Gibson, etc. are great, but you get so much more for your money with other brands.

Any example I'd start with is Reverend. They make excellent guitars with many appointments that fix the problems that Fender (for example) never bothered/didn't dare mess with for fear of upsetting purists.

But that's just one, there are plenty of others too!