Most versatile passive high output bridge humbucker from cleans to brutal death metal?

[cardinal]

Just for the record, the Duncan Custom is not my "favorite" pickup by any stretch. That said, if you are looking for a bridge position pup that is great for cleans, mid-gain rock sounds and is great for tight and bright metal tones...the Custom is very solid.

Same. I don't currently have a guitar with a Custom in it, but if I wanted one guitar to do clean to metal, the custom would be the first place I'd look.

 

[NorCal_Val]

I have a Duncan “Alternstive 8” in my LTD Desert Eagle. I like it. It’s sorta dark sounding, and it’s pretty hot. But, I would think it would work really well for modern metal applications.

 

[Geo]

Asking a pickup to be 2 different pickups is a tough call but if I had to pick one, I would pick Gibson 498T. Gibson tries to cover all grounds.

 

[buller]

I have to agree with this! Only thing is if the OP wants to tune to C standard, I don't think would work that well. D standard is fine, but I think anything lower might not work. It's pretty hard to find a decent comprise for what the OP is asking for. I see you mentioned a JB, no offense but if you're going after brutal death metal with a JB that's not going to happen. Call me crazy but what about a good old EMG 81.

Completely agree on this! But if the OP wants a brutal death metal pickup tuned to C standard the 81 will do the job!

What amp is the OP using? That may help a little.

I want it to be able to handle death metal in C standard, but I also play stuff like post-metal that needs more touch sensitivity and dynamics than active pickups have (to my understanding, have never used actives though so lmk if I'm wrong). Most of the extreme metal I listen to is 90s stuff. Really don't care for djent or stuff that requires super modern and tight tones.

As far as my chain goes, for death metal stuff I play into This Heavy Earth Flesh Rot V2 (Ampeg VH140C preamp in pedal form), into a Lichtlaerm PandorA power amp pedal, into a KSR 212V with Alnico Cream and Redback. For non death metal stuff I use a Science Mother preamp pedal, and I boost either of my preamp pedals with a TS-style OD

 

[MetalThrasher]

I want it to be able to handle death metal in C standard, but I also play stuff like post-metal that needs more touch sensitivity and dynamics than active pickups have (to my understanding, have never used actives though so lmk if I'm wrong). Most of the extreme metal I listen to is 90s stuff. Really don't care for djent or stuff that requires super modern and tight tones.

As far as my chain goes, for death metal stuff I play into This Heavy Earth Flesh Rot V2 (Ampeg VH140C preamp in pedal form), into a Lichtlaerm PandorA power amp pedal, into a KSR 212V with Alnico Cream and Redback. For non death metal stuff I use a Science Mother preamp pedal, and I boost either of my preamp pedals with a TS-style OD

Based upon this. EMG 81.