Patek style tenor banjo

About me

28. Oct 2011

My first name is Mirek, pronounced as the word "miracle" without the "le" part. Surname Patek means Friday in Czech. Born in 1969, live in Prague, capitol of the Czech Republic. I am educated as MD and MBA, married, have two sons. I have spent the 90's with the mandolin, in 1999 tried the Holoubek custom made resophonic mandola (open tuned, played with fingerpicks) which redirected me to the fingerpicked DGdg tenor banjo.

Out of several banjos in my possession (apparent BAS) my two workhorses are openback Capek banjo boosted with Ptacek tubaphone style tonering, and another Czech made banjo George (made by Jiri Pysna) - resonator flathead with Ptacek mastertone type tonering. Both have 19 fret neck as I need that d-g doublestop on frets 19-17 of middle strings. I use GHS 220 set of stainless steel strings with 028w 020w 012 0105 gauges.

Since April 2011 I play with Czech band Jauvajs which interpretes Irish traditional music.

I am regular visitor of Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival due to stellar lineup from both Irish tenor banjo and bluegrass and old-time 5-string banjo world. In September 2004 I have heard and seen Mr. Earl Scruggs in person there.

^{Photo by Martin Stehlik}

And here is great banjo finale of both performers and visitors (like me) at the same festival.

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