It's an interesting and thought provoking topic, isn't it?!

The old "Fender = thin and Gibson = thick" adage of my youth still holds pretty true, although, as always, you do tend to get what you pay for.... up to a point! I have P90s, h/bs and s/cs at hand in the guitars I have out, all of which are running into the board and through to the computer with no amps in the signal chain at all and I have discovered that I have good sounding, "thick" singles and h/bs which don't really sound... well, like humbuckers!! I wonder if position of the pickup in the guitar makes a difference, and if the wood that they're mounted in has an affect?? I have a 1985 Matsumoku built Electra Phoenix X195 which is a s/h/s setup and it sounds mega with its' chimey singles and DiMarzio Super Distortion clone MMK45 humbucker which is splittable. The guitar body is of a maple butcher block construction with a bolt on neck.... superbly capable and versatile guitar.
I will allow that my old, valve Holden combo makes everything sound epic, and that the modern Behringer and Legacy I have sound quite different to it... the old Crate sounds different again, and much, much louder so take what you will from that!
My strat with the Toneriders is getting a bit of play at the moment, and for searing lead work, an old Aria Pro II LC440 with slightly underwound h/bs does it for me. At the moment.