Guns N’ Roses guitarist Richard Fortus shared a strange experience from the band’s May 23 concert in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. On Instagram, he said it was so hot—113°F (45°C)—that the wax inside his guitar pickups actually melted. “Well, this is a first,” he wrote. “It was so hot in Saudi Arabia that the wax in my pickups melted!”
The concert took place at the Mohammed Abdu Arena and was part of the band’s world tour. It started after 10 PM to avoid the hottest part of the day, but it was still extremely warm. Fortus used his signature Gretsch Falcon guitar, which has wax inside the pickups to protect them and stop unwanted noise.
Because of the extreme heat, the wax began to melt and leak out. Even with this problem, the guitar still worked during the show. Afterward, it needed some repairs.
This incident got musicians and fans talking about how hard it can be to perform in very hot weather. Some are wondering if guitar makers should design gear that handles heat better. Fortus’s story shows that even experienced performers can face unexpected problems on stage, but the show must go on.
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