So I got my first 7 string, Ibanez RG 7321, for my birthday last month my experience so far is that it only sounds good with distortion and usually with both of the stock pickups selected (Middle position)

So far the only artist I know of that use 7 strings which I like are Keith Merrow, Jeff Loomis, Brian Head Welch, Love and Death, and Unearth. Everyone else that uses a 6 string that I know of use EMG 81/85 or some random 2 Duncan pickups.

What pickups would you recommend for someone that plays metal but also wants decent cleans that aren't too muddy?

Current signal chain: Guitar > Boss CS-3 > Digitech Metal Master that I don't use much anymore > Kustom HV 65T Hybride Tube amp > FX loop MXR 10 band EQ and DOD DFX9 delay > back to the amp I plan to get some kind of Peavy 5xxx or 6xxx amp or a Mesa Mini Rect eventually

Music I'm currently listening too: Djent: Besides Keith Merrow or Jeff Loomis if they count pretty much random people on Youtube that are their own original content or djent versions of pop/rap songs

Metal and I'm sub genre illiterate: Impending Doom, As I Lay Dying, Wovenwar, Becoming the Archetype, Brian Head Welch, Metalica, Oh Sleeper, Aughest Burns Red, War of Ages, Demon Hunter

Rock: Bon Jovi, ACDC, Breaking Benjamin, Red, Rage Against the Machine, pretty much anything that comes up on the classic rock station

Budget: This is going to be more for what I'm asking for Christmas since I'm being asked about it. But preferably no more than maybe $250 for the pickups, 3 or 5 way blade switch, and 1 or 2 pots that will be used for volume.

Thank you for your time :D