So I am a beginner guitar player. Started playing 9 months ago. I got a second-hand strat copy (the headstock reads Thunder) as my first instrument. I also bought an ultra cheap($30) which does not even have gain controls as I was not sure if I would even play it after a month or so.

After 9 months I have not achieved much but I can play all the standard open and barre chords correctly. So I have a few questions:-

 1. What should I learn next? I am really inspired by Classic Rock(like Hendrix, Pink Floyd etc.) so should I get into learning my favorite solos?

 2. I never got my guitar set up professionally. Should I take it to a guitar shop or can I do something manually to make it more playable?

 3. My strings break regularly. I have to restring the guitar every 3-4 months. Is that normal? I use Daddario 9 gauge strings.

 4. Should I invest in a new Amp or invest in pedals to get that rock sound on my guitar? My budget is like Rs. 7000 or $100 roughly to improve my setup.

 5. When exactly should I buy a new guitar?