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.

In this episode of Worship, Bass, Coffee, I sit down with Ethan Eichhorn — a longtime Instagram friend turned real-life hang. Ethan shares his journey growing up in a musical family where both parents were professional musicians, and how bass became the perfect blend of groove and melody for him.

By day, Ethan leads in the construction world after earning a degree in electrical engineering. Between travel, remote work, and raising three kids, he still finds time to serve at The Orchard, often pouring into the student band so he and his wife can serve together. We talk about how he prepares for Sundays—listening first, visualizing the parts during his commute, and memorizing songs so there’s no stand between him and true worship.

Gear heads will love this one. Ethan walks us through his setup: a Fender Roscoe Beck V with La Bella Super Polished rounds, a Sire Z7 five-string with Ian Allison strings, a Lake Placid Blue American Original P-Bass strung with low-tension flats, and a sentimental ’90s MIM PJ that still sees plenty of play. His all-in Quad Cortex rig delivers clean SVT-inspired tones, smart routing, and studio-grade flexibility—perfect for both church and travel.

Ethan’s wisdom runs deep: get on stage, play with musicians better than you, memorize the set, and honor your season. Whether it’s leading worship, investing in family, or simply serving faithfully where you are, his story is a reminder that humility and preparation go hand in hand.

Grab a cup of coffee and join us for this grounded, encouraging conversation.

In this episode of Worship, Bass, Coffee, I sit down with Adam Kiser — a bassist and MD whose path runs from a tiny south-Georgia church to Bethel Music and the road with Josh Baldwin. We met before serving on a live worship project at The Bridge church and kept the conversation going over coffee. Adam shares how a visiting praise band made bass feel “cool,” what it felt like to move across the country at 18, and why not making the team his first year at Bethel ended up being one of the best things that happened to him.

We talk about the craft behind the calling: learning songs by ear, then locking them in with simple Nashville Numbers notes; getting handed a talkback mic and stumbling into MD’ing; and how to prep for sets when Planning Center isn’t doing the heavy lifting. Adam gets real about life in Nashville, choosing the right trips, communicating at home, and finding a sustainable rhythm between family, ministry, and the road.

And yep — plenty of gear talk. Adam walks through his go-to Puleo Jazz, a trusty American Standard Jazz, and a ’73 P-Bass when the gig fits. On the board: Union LAB Compressor, Aguilar Tone Hammer, JHS Colour Box, Walrus Julia chorus, and the MXR Poly Blue Octave for those “keys-bass” moments. We hit why the Tone Hammer sits so well in modern worship mixes, how right-hand dynamics beat endless pedal stacking, and where modeling (HX Stomp) still makes a ton of sense.

From influences like Geddy Lee to the minimalist vibe of Laura Lee (Khruangbin), Adam’s approach is musical, practical, and deeply encouraging. We wrap with a quick devotional from 2 Peter 1:5–8 on perseverance — a reminder that growth often looks like humble reps, honest feedback, and trusting God’s timing.

Whether you’re serving every Sunday or just starting out, Adam’s story is full of grit, humor, and wisdom for worship bassists. Grab your favorite cup of coffee and join us for this encouraging conversation.