The pickups are super clean in every position, but can do distortion that sounds as good as Hendrix, Metalica and the like. This pickups do it all. I play a Fender Blues Junior, and I have played them through a Mashall stack. Each time they prove to be wonderful. I play metal to jazz, so this pickups can do it all.
All positions sound great.
But, it's worth the trade off to get such a perfect sound. And unlike a lot of active pickups, these still have a vintage tone that strat players will like. Plus they can do all that active pickups are known for. I'd buy these things again, and recommend them to all. They sound best to me overdriving a small tube amp, with the gain maxed.