I bought a small (1960s, Gibson era) Epiphone acoustic because a number of local players I admired played the larger models (Texans) and that was all I could afford at the time (entry level US-made guitar available on the used market in the early 70s). One later purchase was a Dick Knight luthier build because I had seen one on the cover of a John Renbourn album, but that turned out not to be a keeper, also a Gibson Southern Jumbo because I was super impressed by the sound that Mike Silver got out of his, and (much later) a 12 fret slothead Martin dreadnought because I was impressed with the sound other players that I admired got out of them. So yes, an element of influence for sure, but ultimately I could say those players opened my ears to particular guitar tones which spoke to me at the times (and still do), even though I do not really emulate their playing. A long winded way of saying that (these days) I chase my own sound (or really sounds, having 4 different nice acoustics to choose from), but certainly hearing my "heroes", often up close, opened my ears to what was possible with particular instruments.