Low and medium output pickups for metal

[Chistopher]

A 14k Custom and a 16k JB, both with ceramics, it all really just comes down to pickup height at that point. Either one could be way louder than the other

 

[STLMTLHD79]

The Thrash Factor is 16k in DCR; not sure I would call it a "medium" pickup. (and it isn't listed as such on the SD site, unlike the Custom/C5 and so on)

It is supposedly based on a slightly under-wound JB that Mustaine had in his Jackson V. Take that with a grain of salt, but SOME call the JB medium output. Agree, Custom is definitely more hot with the ceramic mag than the Custom 5.

 

[esandes]

I have a HSS strat type Yamaha with an Alnico 2 Pro HB. I loaned it to a friend who plays metal and he loved it. It was his go-to guitar.

 

[Wolfshead]

I have a couple of Slash 2.0 (one in a Les Paul Classic, the other in a Gibson Flying V) and I think they're great for metal. I mean, old school metal, not the djenty nonsense. I have a Burstbucker 3 in an Explorer and that is fantastic for metal despite being far from a "hot" pickup.