Pickups for these tones....

[wildshoetwt]

http://soundcloud.com/elliot-anderson-1/dead-meadow-till-kingdom-come  (guitar starts around :20)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTXf0Rtp98s (this is the tele plus, the rhythm and solo tone @ 2:25 are what im trying to get back to)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykhvUpNqysk (love this tone, but slightly darker than this, and more growl rather than scream)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pj0jXmtaFZI (0:00 to 0:20)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A46S3EirGOU (0:00 to 0:20)

i really like p90 tones, this guy plays a tele with a lace sensor blue and a lace sensor dually red humbucker in the bridge

[Telerocker]

I think think these tones can be achieved with several telepickups, especially when you roll down the toneknob a tad. The BG50 10 k-bridge comes to mind: fat teletones with this topend-shimmer. As you state P90's will do great for crunchy growling tones, like the Nantucket (p90) and Missisippi Queen (P90 in hb-format). But I think the amp (cranked tweedamps are great for these tones) is important too.