How Mk.gee Revived the Roland VG-8 and the Quest for the Perfect Guitar Tone

The musician known as Mk.gee has triggered a significant market resurgence for the Roland VG-8, a digital guitar processor originally released in 1995. The device, which spent nearly three decades largely forgotten in pawn shops and home studios, has become a highly sought-after tool for guitarists attempting to replicate the unique sonic palette of the New Jersey artist.

Michael Gordon, the 29-year-old who performs as Mk.gee, released his debut album Two Star &amp. the Dream Police in 2024. The record features guitar work that critics have described as sounding like an orchestra, a snarling animal, or a radio playing from the bottom of the ocean. This extraterrestrial sound has led to a global quest among gear enthusiasts to decode his specific tone, a mystery that remained a topic of speculation on Reddit and Discord until photographs of his stage setup revealed the Roland VG-8.

The Technical Appeal of the Virtual Guitar

The Roland VG-8, short for virtual guitar, was designed as a comprehensive toolbox that allowed guitarists to electronically switch amplifiers, microphones, and acoustic environments. According to Chris Bristol, the former chair and CEO of Roland U.S., the device enabled players to make their guitars sound like different models and provided access to dozens of synth sounds and effects.

To achieve these sounds, the setup typically involves a specialized pickup, such as the Roland GK-3, which converts the guitar signal into MIDI. This allows for the array of synth-based and nylon guitar sounds associated with Mk.gee’s work. Mk.gee himself utilizes a Fender Jaguar, which he pairs with the VG-8 to create his signature grungy sound.

The current appeal of the VG-8 is rooted in its technical limitations. Paul Youngblood, the former president of Roland’s U.S. BOSS division, noted that music technology in 1995 was not as advanced as modern systems. This results in a lo-fi kind of sound where playing too loud or too hard can cause the device to produce choppy and explosive noises.

These imperfections are precisely what modern musicians are seeking. While Roland has released a modernized version called the VG-800, some players find it too clean. Guitarist Marcus Hidalgo, who performs as toast, prefers the original VG-8 for the weird noises it generates, stating that the device makes him feel as though he has started to learn how to play the guitar again.

Market Impact and Price Surge

The demand for the VG-8 has led to a dramatic increase in its secondary market value. Data from the music-gear marketplace Reverb indicates that before the release of Two Star & the Dream Police, VG-8 units were sold only occasionally for approximately $200.

Following the album’s success, prices rose to $1,200 in early 2025. Some musicians have reported seeing listings for $2,000 or $3,000, though this remains roughly half the inflation-adjusted price of the unit’s original 1995 retail cost of $3,000.

Historical Context and Digital Nostalgia

Although currently associated with Mk.gee, the VG-8 was used by several influential artists in the 1990s. Reeves Gabrels used the device extensively in his work with David Bowie, and Sting used it to write the majority of his 1998 album Brand New Day.

Joni Mitchell also adopted the technology in 1995. Because her songbook utilizes more than 50 different tunings, the VG-8 allowed her to keep her guitar in standard tuning while the device produced the unusual tunings required for her music.

I wanted to blow chords up in size the way Georgia O’Keeffe blew up the flowers in her paintings, and now that’s possible.

Joni Mitchell to Billboard

The current trend reflects a broader shift in how musicians view vintage technology. Steve Waksman, a rock musicologist at the University of Huddersfield, explains that while most vintage gear crazes focus on analog devices as a rebellion against digitization, the rise of the VG-8 represents a nostalgia for a time when digital was still new.

Cyril Nigg, the senior director of analytics at Reverb, notes that this is part of a recurring cycle in music culture. A rising artist often discovers forgotten, inexpensive equipment that shapes their sound, which in turn influences the wider culture. This pattern was seen previously with the Fender Jaguar during the grunge era of the 1990s.

The influence of the VG-8 continues to extend beyond Mk.gee’s solo work. On the 2025 song Shapeshifter by Lorde, the guitar track—performed by Mk.gee’s touring band member Andrew Aged using the VG-8—is described as sounding more like a gritty string quartet than a traditional guitar.