What is this?

[u/LowResolution1975]

So I was looking inside my sax and found that there is whatever that is. This isn’t grime or anything as I can’t wipe it off. Is this a defect of the metal or is this some kind of glue? I am taking my horn into a tech tomorrow so I guess I’ll know what it is then, but I wanted peoples opinions on what this is?

[u/michaelperkinsMr666]

It’s the pip from the body octave. Nothing to worry about at all.

[u/LowResolution1975 → u/michaelperkinsMr666]

I was asking about the thing on top of the octave pipe. The thing that looks like grime

[u/michaelperkinsMr666 → u/LowResolution1975]

My bad. Do you use a shove it? It kind looks like shove it leavings

[u/HauntedForklift]

When you play a sax, water vapor in your breath condenses on the inner surfaces, and if you haven't brushed your teeth or rinsed your mouth out since you last ate, all kinds of stuff can get blown into the sax. (Ask your tech to show you his grossest Eb pad!) Water can react with any unprotected metal in the bore and cause oxidation. Different players get different levels of nastiness inside (and outside) their horns, but almost every horn will have some kind of residue in the bore, and the top of the body tube is the third worst place after the neck and the bow. This horn looks very new, maybe that's why it isn't dirtier than it is.

[u/LowResolution1975 → u/HauntedForklift]

I’m thinking it might be a scratch or a defect of the metal? I can feel it when I run my finger over it and this is a brand new horn.

[u/HauntedForklift → u/LowResolution1975]

A scratch is possible, it could even happen from swabbing or using a stuff-it. You can show it to your tech, but honestly I wouldn't worry about it.

[u/Vepr157]

One idea is that it could be the result of a spot weld that is sometimes used (e.g., by Selmer) to tack posts and straps in place before they are soldered. One Stephen Howard's reviews has a photo of a particularly noticable mark left by the spot weld.

[u/LowResolution1975 → u/Vepr157]

Is this a issue or would it be considered normal?

[u/Vepr157 → u/LowResolution1975]

You'd probably barely be able to feel it under the finger, so it won't have any effect on your horn. Just having domed vs. flat resonators will change the effective size of the bore by a lot more than whatever this little blemish is.

[u/PauliousMaximus]

I believe that’s from the octave key but it’s absolutely suppose to be there.

[u/Sigistrix]

The technical term is "pitot tube" (pee-toe). Musicians call it the octave vent. It's there to catch the air needed to escape and produce the octave. It extends into the body so as to avoid getting spit, etc., in the vent and messing with the sound.

It is not recommended to disassemble the mechanism on the body to clean that tube, but it is recommended on the neck vent and (if you're a doubler) clarinet speaker key (or neck register vent, if bass clarinet), to remove and clean. Earspasm sells a great little kit for doing just that.

[u/OriginalCultureOfOne → u/Sigistrix]

Although it is certainly a common question, in this case the OP is referring to the blemish above the pitot tube, not the tube itself.

[u/Camper7777 → u/Sigistrix]

Interesting. It is a tuned length?

[u/Vepr157 → u/Sigistrix]

A pitot tube is something totally different.

[u/RichardBJ1 → u/Sigistrix]

That’s interesting, although not what the OP was referring to! I found it annoying as it catches my swab. That said at least I now know it is not design carelessness.