Lower Action

As I suspected, the action at the 12th fret of the LKSM-12 is higher with the heavier strings. Luckily, although I didn't know at the time, I cut the bridge too low and had to add a bone shim. Do you know how hard it is to sand down a bone shim? You're lucky to have any fingertips left.

While doing this project I modified the notched saddle. The two lowest courses (strings 10-12) are no longer notched. I made this change so that the bottom of each string is the same distance from the frets; I think the overall force required to cleanly finger a note is less. Also, the primary reason for the notch, which is to allow the higher note of each course to sound out even when struck from the other direction, isn't really needed for these strings. Few guitarists strike the 5th and 6th course with anything but the thumb.

I really am enjoying the lower action; the past couple of days I've started playing and quickly get engrossed in the sound, not too aware of fingering problems. I've been messing around with a new version of Candyman, one that keeps the internal A-D-G motif driving continuously.

heavy, medium, or light?

My hands are getting stronger now that cycling is winding down a little and I'm playing more. This means, of course, more fussing to get the perfect sound, the perfect touch. Last February I was obsessing about strings, and I'm back doing it again.
The LKSM-12 sounds very nice with the heavy Elixir strings, but it is a bear to play. Even tuned from E to C it has 50 pounds more tension on the strings than the setup I played over the Summer. I lowered the action quite a bit and it felt very easy to play with Elixir mediums tuned down a major second. I suspect that the heavier strings are causing the neck to flex a bit more and maybe I need to lower it some more.
Time to get out the StewMac Action Gauge.