I think most guys in the past tended to go for Fenders cause of their looks. There used to be a time when the only two makes you'd consider buying if you were serious about guitar were Fenders or Gibsons. Generally, Gibsons looked fat & bulky and Fenders looked cool. Plus the Fenders had a whammy bar which you had to have if you wanted to play anything by Van Halen.
If you were into rock it was a Fender Strat and a Marshall amp.
If you were into blues or country then it was a Gibson Les Paul with a Fender Twin amp.