Like Darkbluemurder, I can only really comment on those I've either owned or tried:
DiMarzio Super DistortionTried it in an Adrian Smith Jackson and liked it a lot but due to the EQ chart on the DiMarzio website, I assumed it worked because it was in alder, which balanced the dark pickup. As my guitars tend to be mahogany (PRS Custom 24 and Gibson Les Paul Studio) I always assumed the SD would be too dark for what I had so I never took the plunge.
JBI agree with you here 100%. I first tried a JB when it came stock in a Jackson Soloist and I thought it was woefully poor so it was quickly changed. Instead of just leaving it lying around I put it into a Yamaha Pacifica on the grounds that even though it was pretty poor, it had to be better than the stock items. To my surprise they sounded really good. Years later I tried them in a Jackson Pro Dinky and I was completely blown away with how good they were.
Gibson 498TLike you, I'm always amazed that so many people seem to hate this pickup because I love it. I love the way it retains a certain PAF feel, I love the way the upper mids give it just enough bite and aggression, I love the way it always makes me think of THE classic Gibson Rock tone and I love the way it perfectly suits my Les Paul Studio. It's the only stock pickup I've ever known that I have no intention of changing. Like you, however, I can't say the same about the 490R I have in the neck, which I don't find special at all. I'm toying with taking the 490R out and replacing it with a P90 instead, probably a Bare Knuckle Mississippi Queen. Failing that I might try a DiMarzio PAF Pro in the neck.
EMG 85I just don't get on with active pickups at all. I find them too tight, too sterile and too artificial. To me, playing one of these instead of my usual alnico passive pickups is like playing a digital amp instead of my usual valves.
My own top 10 pickups in no particular order:
1)
Gibson 498T - For reasons already explained.
2)
Creamery 'Double Six' - Awesome pickup for anything from early Metal to modern Metal. Surprisingly versatile when needed.
3)
Creamery Classic '83 - Want to sound like Jake E. Lee? This IS the 80s Metal tone captured to perfection.
4)
Bare Knuckle 'Crawler' bridge - From Blues Rock to early Metal, this is the most awesome sounding and versatile pickup I've ever tried.
5)
Bare Knuckle 'Emerald' neck - Just incredible!
6)
Bare Knuckle 'Holydiver' neck - As above. These two are the best neck humbuckers I've ever tried.
7)
DiMarzio PAF Pro - I had this in a Fender Ritchie Sambora Stratocaster and that guitar gave me the biggest range of sounds in one guitar I've ever come across. I really regret selling that one.
DiMarzio Virtual Solo - These last three are new to me but feature here because I don't usually like singles but these are great, especially when wired with a blend knob.
9)
DiMarzio Area 61 - Much thicker than I expected and in the neck, gives a great Clapton tone. Really beautiful pickup.
10)
DiMarzio Area 58 - I like this in the middle because it's noticeably brighter than either the Virtual Solo or Area 61 so gives a great contrast and twang.