How to Remove a Saxophone Octave Pip

This alto saxophone has an octave pip near the receiver.

Musical instruments produce accurate tones only when their parts work together with precision. Few instruments have as precisely crafted and interdependent parts as the saxophone. Each key works in concert with every other key to produce accurate tones, including special keys like the octave key or "pip." This key allows the player to raise the octave of any played note one octave. Pip malfunction can lead to hiss at best and produce squawks and honks at worst. You can remove the pip for cleaning or to assess any malfunction in a few steps.

Things You'll Need

• Saxophone
• Jeweler's screwdriver

Instructions

1. Remove the mouthpiece from a saxophone in a gentle twisting motion and set the mouthpiece aside.

2. Turn the locking knob at the base of the saxophone's receiver counterclockwise to loosen it.

3. Remove the receiver from the saxophone and set the body of the saxophone aside.

4. Unscrew the screw at the center of the octave pip near the middle of the receiver with a standard head jeweler's screwdriver.

5. Lift the pip out of its cradle and slide it off of the receiver.

References

• MusicMedic.com; Fixing a Saxophone Octave Hiss; Curt Altarac
• The International Saxophone Home Page: Saxophone Basics