About
De Clercq Guitars

Founder Gary De Clercq was born in the former British colony in South America called Guyana. Gary is a friendly, open man of South American descent with an English accent and a huge passion for music, technology and art. His father had a little workshop at the back of the house, where he built and repaired guitars. He taught Gary the craft and the secrets of guitar building.

“Gary: ‘As long as I can remember, as a child I could always be found in my father’s workshop between the guitar parts. Sometimes when we played  hide and seek as children together, we did hide between the wooden planks and the guitar parts of my father.“

Since then Gary De Clercq was side by side with his father in this  workshop. As a child, he first above all he stood in the way, but soon he was allowed to hold parts, sawing and glowing parts together. Explanation followed and he grew slowly in the profession of a luthier. Later he always listened to the conversations between his father and his old joiner friends on technology behind the instrument of the sound of the different wood species. The family house  always was full of guitar parts and wood. Gary says; This was the most beautiful time of my young years. This fragrance of happiness is always in my head.

In 1993 Gary De Clercq moved from South America to the Netherlands and was overwhelmed by the European cultural history that can be found in each city around Europe. When he arrived, he had to learn the language and find himself a job. In the nineties  it was the booming time of the computer and internet.  Gary found a job as a computer technician and later he grew to an engineer support for computer hardware. Here he got the chance to develop his passion for computer technology. 18 years later he used his experience in electronics in the design of guitar elements.

All the ideas De Clercq had as a child in South America about guitar building, design and craftsmanship, he combined with European technology, perfection and reliability.

De Clercq lives and makes his guitars in a friendly and lively town in the middle of the country. Utrecht is known for the cozy city canals and the 112 meter high DOM Tower (built from 1321 to 1382) that rises majestically above the historic buildings of the city.

In 2014 De Clercq Guitars drew his company right above the Royal Waiting Room at the picturesque railway station of Baarn, a town in the centre of the Netherlands. F Gary considered this as a very special location. He says; Baarn is truly one of the most beautiful places in the Netherlands with forests, villa’s, business activity, but there is also a serenity. Here is the Palace of the former Dutch Queen Beatrix and this place is where she has chosen to live.

This unique location inspired De Clercq and lifted him up. It brought him to the design and construction of the guitar models from ‘the Royal Collection’. De Clercq was so grateful for this place that this is even reflected in the logo that he has designed.

If you look closely at the picture of railway station Baarn and the logo, you can find the railway station of Baarn in the drawing of the logo, just above his name. In the lower left corner is the Royal waiting room. At the top left was the magnificent Studio of De Clercq.  In the adjoining rooms he had artists exhibit their work. Unfortunately, the Studio at this location in Baarn was only temporary for him to use. De Clercq is currently working in a special place in his home town Utrecht, on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by curious horses which apparently seem to appreciate the sound of guitar construction.