Well known as guitarist with glam art‑rock pioneers Roxy Music, Phil Manzanera has also etched out parallel careers as solo artist, session musician and producer. Over the course of his 50‑year career Manzanera has contributed to over 80 albums, and his production credits include albums by Split Enz, John Cale and Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour. Asked to dissect a favourite sound, he chooses the guitar tone he created for Roxy Music’s ‘Amazona’.

“The guitar sound on that track is totally unique, even though I will say it myself. It’s one which I’ve never been able to repeat. When we started recording the album, I was faced with a dilemma because Brian Eno had left the band, and on the previous two albums I had used Eno to treat my guitar through his VCS synthesizer, and the combination of my direct sound and the treated sound created a unique sound.

“You have to remember that in those days you could only get really a fuzzbox and wah‑wah...