In this episode of Worship, Bass, Coffee, I sit down with Josh Summers — a fellow bassist, husband, and dad of four based in Cleveland, Tennessee, who has a deep love for music, tone, and serving in the local church. From early days in punk and alternative bands to leading worship at Calvary Chapel Chattanooga, Josh shares how his journey as a musician has evolved into something far deeper than just playing notes.

We talk about preparation, intentional playing, and what it means to “serve the song.” Josh opens up about his process of learning structure first—then finding where not to play. He shares how dynamics, silence, and restraint often carry more weight than fills or flash, and how the best bass parts support the moment instead of stealing it. From learning to adapt with different drummers to post-service “Give It Back” moments of humility, this episode digs into what heart-led musicianship really looks like.

And of course—there’s plenty of gear talk. Josh walks us through his two Fender Mustang basses, both heavily customized, and explains how his setup evolved from a simple analog board to a streamlined digital rig centered around the Darkglass Anagram. We get into fuzz tones, subs, compression, pitch-shifting tricks for those Eb Sundays, and the pros and cons of leaving the pedal world behind for all-in-one solutions. If you’ve ever debated going from analog to digital, this one’s for you.

Josh also shares about balancing family life, working remotely, and finding peace in both the loud and quiet seasons. His perspective on worship—removing ego, playing with purpose, and letting God shape your approach—reminds every bassist why we do what we do.

Whether you’re deep in the worship world or just love a good gear conversation, this episode is full of encouragement, humor, and honesty from one player to another. Grab your favorite cup of coffee and join us for a real, grounded, and inspiring conversation.