Picks or bare fingers?

[sliding-tom]

Time to start a new thread. I would like to know what you pickers prefer and why - thumb-and fingerpicks or bare fingers? If you use picks which ones?
I myself prefer the bare fingers because of the warmer tone they give me. When I used to play more acoustic I even developed some callouses on my fingertips and thumb, giving me a good "thump" (pun intended) on the bass strings. But on the rare occasions playing live I go with picks - thinking they give me more volume (which they really don't - just more attack). Also on the National I prefer picks. Taj Mahal has a great tone with just his fingers.
Now what about you?

[gakees]

I use each of the techniques you mentioned. Depends on the style of music. Playing slide, it's always fingers only. Rhythm and traditional style lead which I'm inclined to describe as mellow stuff ???, who knows, I use a flat pick. Blues picking, I use a flat pick between the thumb and index finger along with the other fingers. I make a futile effort to try playing Jerry Reed/Chet Atkins type of stuff and I use the thumbpick for that. I love to tune my Baby Taylor down a full step to an open F, slap on the thumbpick and get after it. Flat picks are always the heavy type and my Ernie Ball medium thumbpick has been with me for about 30 years from my days of trying to learn the banjo.

[JrGtr42]

all of the above. Mostly dpends on what mood I'm in - not even necassarily going for.
I use finger picking, hybrid picking and standard flatpick. Don't use thumbpicks; I never really get the hang of them, they still feel awkward for me.
For flatpicks, I usually use the same as I do for electric, Dunlop tortex .73MM (the yellow ones)
I do have a couple Altoid tins full of miscellaneous picks I use not and again, depending again what mood I'm in.

[Rockabilly69]

Could never get used to thumb or finger picks, but I use a variety of different thickness flatpicks depending on my string gauge. Lately I've been using my bare thumb, and stroking downward with my fingernails. I have to adjust my tone controls accordingly but have been happy with the results.

Rockabilly69 (dan weldon)

[bluespckr]

Yeah, this is an oldie thread, but I was just checking to see what I might reply to. I guess I missed this one ...

I never could get used to finger and thumb picks, but do okay with the meaty parts of the thumb and the first two fingers for the blues and folky stuff I play on the Martin. However, "live" is a different matter, and I can never get it to project enough for me, so I usually fall back on a pick.

For my electrics, I use the heaviest things I can find ina standard shaped pick. For acoustics, i use a medium-light gauge Dunlop vinyl thing. I find something with some flex results in better acoustic tone than the hard one.