CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (Guitar Center Holdings, Inc.) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Comprehensive Loss
Balance at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 398,672	$ 97	$ 626,476	$ (227,574)	$ (327)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2008		9,708,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Stock-based compensation expense	1,922		1,922
Modification of employee stock options	163		163
Exercise of employee stock options, including tax benefit of $171 for the year ended December 31, 2009	171		171
Repurchase of common stock	270		270
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(13,000)
Net loss	(189,858)			(189,858)		(189,858)
Unrealized gain (loss) on hedging arrangement, net of income tax expense (benefit) of ($262) and $231 for the year ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively	384				384	384
Comprehensive loss						(189,474)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	211,724	97	629,002	(417,432)	57
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009		9,695,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Stock-based compensation expense	3,218		3,218
Exercise of employee stock options, including tax benefit of $171 for the year ended December 31, 2009	4,387	3	4,384
Exercise of employee stock options (in shares)		279,000
Repurchase of common stock	(5,116)	(2)	(5,114)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(224,000)
Net loss	(56,377)			(56,377)		(56,377)
Unrealized gain (loss) on hedging arrangement, net of income tax expense (benefit) of ($262) and $231 for the year ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively	(440)				(440)	(440)
Comprehensive loss						(56,817)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	157,396	98	631,490	(473,809)	(383)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010	9,750,000	9,750,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Stock-based compensation expense	1,552		1,552
Exercise of employee stock options, including tax benefit of $171 for the year ended December 31, 2009	290		290
Exercise of employee stock options (in shares)		13,000
Repurchase of common stock	(576)	(1)	(575)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(21,000)
Amortization of deferred losses on derivative instruments de-designated as cash flow hedges	216				216
Net loss	(236,939)			(236,939)		(236,939)
Unrealized gain (loss) on hedging arrangement, net of income tax expense (benefit) of ($262) and $231 for the year ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively	(6)				(6)	(6)
Comprehensive loss						(236,945)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ (78,067)	$ 97	$ 632,757	$ (710,748)	$ (173)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	9,742,000	9,742,000