This is an extremely rare, mint condition Taylor LKSM Leo Kottke Signature Model 12- String, dated 11/93 and signed by Leo Kottke. It’s one of the most celebrated and popular 12-strings ever made, and it is in stunning condition for its age. The guitar also comes with the original Taylor Deluxe Hardshell Brown Case.
This LKSM 12-String has a jumbo body with a Macaferristyle cutaway. It features a solid Sitka Spruce top with solid Tropical American Mahogany back, sides and neck. An Ebony fretboard and bridge. A Rosewood headstock overlay, truss rod, fretboard binding, heelcap and wedge. It also features a 25 1/2′′ scale length and 1 7/8′′ width nut.
As a jumbo guitar, it uses heavy gauge strings that are tuned down to the key of C#, which yields Kottke’s rumbling, throaty piano guitar sound. You can use a capo to bring it up to E. Nobody knows why Taylor discontinued this popular model because everybody loves its warm and thunderous sound.
Regarding strings, according to Acoustic Guitar magazine in March 2006, many different combinations will work on the Taylor LKSM, but at that particular time Kottke used D’Addario, John Pearse or Elixirs for the fundamentals. He designed a custom set of individual strings which are paired like this:
e/e .013 .013
b/b .017 .017
g/G .014 .026
d/D .014 .036
a/A .018 (w) .046
e/E .030 (w) .056
(Please see the link to Acoustic Guitar Forum (dot com) below for more information.)
Check out some amazing playing and great LKSM-12 sounds in these videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqVIXdEmmBE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jpxWCaVRYc
This video has a great Ralph Towner vibe!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gL6TbNU0U58
Link to article on where to find strings for the LKSM-12:
https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=445924
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