Zack Lopez of Sacramento-based Middle Class Rut is a Marshall man. Specifically, he is partial to the Marshall EL34.

“I’ve been playing this amp for a long time. I like using it with the JMP-1 because it allows me as many channels as I need,” he says. “I’m also able to hook up any effects and run everything from one pedal. The amp sounds good and has a lot of power. I like that in the event that one side blows out (which has happened),I’m still able to get by with the side that’s still working; as opposed to the whole thing dying as a result.”

To combat the possibility (perhaps the likelihood) of any other mishap, Lopez owns two of the amps. Because they are discontinued they are harder to find, but still not like a piece of vintage gear, according to Lopez.

“As for road wear, the thing’s so damn heavy you don’t find a lot of people even being able to throw it around. If anyone drops it they're severely beaten.” he says.

Lopez says that the best thing about the amp is its completely independent A & B channels. If he has a knock, it is weight.

“It’s heavy, almost too heavy, and it takes up a lot of space in a rack. I find with the 100/100 its rare that you're able to have a stage volume that fully takes advantage of driving the tubes at a level that really brings the tone out,” says Lopez. “For rehearsal it’s perfect. I’m looking into turning my 100/100s into 50/50s so I don’t lose my tone when I hear, night after night, Can you turn down?!?."

For cabinets, Lopez employs two 1960 Marshal Straight cabs.

“I like the sounds of the speakers, and they handle really well, considering the tone I’m running through them is less conventional and more blown out.” he says.

He used to only play Strats through the amp.

“They sounded good but were more generic-- bottom heavy and high gain. Now I only use my '58 LP Juniors. They don’t seem to sound like anything else, especially when running cleans,” he says. “Since I’m running multiple preamps at once, I’m never looking to get just a basic crunch distortion. The combination of the JMP-1s and a JR is the most unique.”

Lopez says he wishes Marshall still made the amp. This is especially true when the band tours Europe. It is virtually impossible to find one to rent. “And by the time you put one of those in a rack and try and take it on a plane you have spent several hundred dollars.” he says.

Middle Class Rut’s EP, 25 Years is out now. The band is writing, in between tours, for a new recording they hope to have done in 2010.