6- & 12-string Guitar

6 & 12-String Guitar is Leo Kottke's second studio album, originally recorded in December 1969. The album presents solo acoustic performances on both 6- and 12-string guitars across 14 instrumental tracks with a total running time of roughly 37 minutes.

The recordings were completed in a single studio session and highlight Kottke's aggressive, polyphonic fingerpicking and distinctive tone. The tracklist includes original instrumentals along with Kottke's arrangement of Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring."

Pros:

• Showcases Kottke's virtuosic, rhythmic fingerpicking and clear, resonant acoustic tone.
• Historically influential in the solo steel-string acoustic guitar repertoire and widely regarded as one of his best-known early recordings.
• Compact runtime (≈37 minutes) with 14 concise instrumental pieces, including a notable Bach arrangement.
• Features both 6- and 12-string performances and a live-in-studio immediacy from single-session recording.

Cons:

• Entirely instrumental (no lead vocals), which may limit appeal for listeners seeking vocal songs.
• The 1969 single-session, close-miked production has a period-specific sound that some listeners may find raw or dated.
• Single-take performances include occasional audible studio noises or performance idiosyncrasies on some tracks.
• Multiple reissues and remasters exist, so specific release details (dates/catalogue codes) vary between editions.