thumb picking?

[ferron]

I play bass with fingers 95% of the time and have figured out that you can use the side of your thumb like a pick when you are playing one string at a time in succession. For example, the bass line for the megadeth song, 5 magics. Instead of using a pick, I use my thumb. The sound isn't as crisp, but maybe distortion would help. My question is, is this a good idea, or should I learn to use a pick more on metal song like this?

[Fingers]

What you'll not get is the sharpness of a pick attack, not even really with distortion.
Depends on your taste and the sound you're after. I use a pick or my fingers depending on the sound I want to get and what I want to play.
For Metal, I'd use a pick, but if Jeff Beck had done what other people told him, he might not be who he is today.