Looking for a Versatile tele pickup...

Well, long time lurker but now it's time for me to post a thread!
I recently got the cheap Tele I've always wanted (Squier Classic Vibe 50's Tele) and I want to make it into something incredibly versatile.
I'm looking to play everything from ambient/prog rock to metal. Not the "scoop" kind, but the kind that demands hard hitting mids. :mrgreen:
But, I love the crap out of my telecaster and have ALWAYS loved the punch they give.
For whatever reason, through my amp it just doesn't have what I want. I've tried various EQ's, overdrive, etc but it still doesn't give what I want it to.
So I've decided I'm going to get a new bridge pickup (the neck is fantastic)

However, that leads me to what many tele players face... Get a single coil sized humbucker and lose that tele tone or get an overwound tele pickup that still is too single coil-like for rock and metal.
I've been researching a bit but I've come up dry. I've looked at pickups such as the Lil '59, Hot for Tele, Quarter Pounder, GFS Neovin Power Rock, Dimarzio Tone Zone T, Dimarzio Super Distortion T, Chopper, etc.

I don't mind making compromises or sacrifices for tone :smile: but if I could get the best of both worlds without losing my Tele's character but can still be mean in a mix, that'd be fantastic. I've been staying a bit away from certain rail humbuckers because from the ones I've used ,the highs are WAY too shrill for my liking. I kind of like the Van Halen sound. Or also slightly overwound PAF style stuff. Overall, the main thing I look for in pickups is "crunch punch".

So, from your experience, which is the most versatile Tele pickup you can get?

I don't know about EVH sound but have you looked at SD Quarter Pound (tapped version)? I had one (non-tapped version) in my tele. Brutaaaallll. Or maybe Dimarzio Tone Zone T (with split). You have to try it yourself. Our perception of versatility is different . I have CS Nocaster - SD '59 in my tele and Keystones in my thinline. Both combo are versatile enough for my application.

What's the difference between the tapped and non tapped version? I did look at the QP and saw something like that, but I wasn't sure what it meant because I thought it was just a single coil! :razz:

Tapped version gives you lower output when you want it, similar like regular output of most single coil. In this mode, it would balance well with your stock neck pickup.

GFS sells a pickup called 'lil puncher". Its a blade style that comes in 3 versions. I put the middle one in the bridge and it really woke my tele up. I think its the vintage version around 10k or so. They're pretty reasonable,altho the shipping on GFS stuff is outrageous compared to other companys. I was surprised that it retained the whole tele vibe while giving the guitar all the punch I wanted. Like anything, it gets mixed reviews but I was really happy with it. You do realize that your amp has a whole lot to do with what you'll get from pretty much any pickup.

I believe I actually had one of those in my old SX Thinline copy. It sounded pretty good, but I had that tuned down to drop A. I actually as just looking for humbucker only that time. Perhaps I could give it another shot.
I think I've narrowed it down to 2 single coils and 3 humbuckers each though

Tone Zone T, Lil '59 and Hot Lead Stack

and

Quarter Pounder and Hot For Tele

What do you guys think?

Look at the Bare Knuckle Pickups blackguard flat 50 bridge.