Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 item	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Information
Number of reporting segments			3
Financial information of reporting segments
Net sales	$ 496,231	$ 488,129	$ 1,510,980	$ 1,469,982
Gross profit	147,362	144,253	457,399	445,918
Selling, general and administrative expenses	131,378	143,683	402,998	422,922
Operating income (loss)	15,984	570	54,401	22,996
Depreciation and amortization	22,667	26,501	67,404	77,487
Adjusted EBITDA	42,579	37,118	134,879	125,628
Capital expenditures	16,316	13,441	48,781	35,086
Total assets	1,846,102	2,068,796	1,846,102	2,068,796	1,859,066
Guitar Center
Financial information of reporting segments
Net sales	496,231	488,129	1,510,980	1,469,982
Gross profit	147,362	144,253	457,399	445,918
Selling, general and administrative expenses	131,378	143,683	402,998	422,644
Operating income (loss)	15,984	570	54,401	23,274
Depreciation and amortization	22,667	26,501	67,404	77,487
Adjusted EBITDA	42,579	37,118	134,879	125,628
Capital expenditures			48,781	35,086
Total assets	1,868,212	2,065,574	1,868,212	2,065,574	1,883,749
Guitar Center
Financial information of reporting segments
Net sales	366,564	358,610	1,125,599	1,075,136
Gross profit	103,320	102,713	324,327	310,443
Selling, general and administrative expenses	84,601	89,000	261,027	258,094
Operating income (loss)	18,719	13,713	63,300	52,349
Depreciation and amortization	16,728	18,867	49,467	55,883
Adjusted EBITDA	36,793	35,050	116,869	112,897
Capital expenditures	9,736	6,690	28,487	16,589
Total assets	1,462,007	1,492,607	1,462,007	1,492,607
Guitar Center | Guitar Center
Financial information of reporting segments
Adjusted EBITDA	36,793	35,050	116,869	112,897
Total assets	1,462,007	1,492,607	1,462,007	1,492,607
Music & Arts
Financial information of reporting segments
Net sales	50,077	44,699	135,865	126,897
Gross profit	19,564	18,625	62,126	60,264
Selling, general and administrative expenses	18,481	17,739	51,989	50,693
Operating income (loss)	1,083	886	10,137	9,571
Depreciation and amortization	1,132	1,007	3,357	3,148
Adjusted EBITDA	2,275	2,176	14,089	13,261
Capital expenditures	1,425	982	4,319	2,998
Total assets	121,588	114,151	121,588	114,151
Music & Arts | Guitar Center
Financial information of reporting segments
Adjusted EBITDA	2,275	2,176	14,089	13,261
Total assets	121,588	114,151	121,588	114,151
Direct Response
Financial information of reporting segments
Net sales	79,590	84,820	249,516	267,949
Gross profit	24,034	22,915	70,844	75,211
Selling, general and administrative expenses	20,674	27,813	70,549	83,204
Operating income (loss)	3,360	(4,898)	295	(7,993)
Depreciation and amortization	3,788	5,957	11,820	16,413
Adjusted EBITDA	7,304	4,121	12,994	13,181
Capital expenditures	1,885	1,835	6,022	6,254
Total assets	186,509	335,344	186,509	335,344
Direct Response | Guitar Center
Financial information of reporting segments
Adjusted EBITDA	7,304	4,121	12,994	13,181
Total assets	186,509	335,344	186,509	335,344
Corporate
Financial information of reporting segments
Gross profit	444		102
Selling, general and administrative expenses	7,622	9,131	19,433	30,931
Operating income (loss)	(7,178)	(9,131)	(19,331)	(30,931)
Depreciation and amortization	1,019	670	2,760	2,043
Adjusted EBITDA	(3,793)	(4,229)	(9,073)	(13,711)
Capital expenditures	3,270	3,934	9,953	9,245
Total assets	75,998	126,694	75,998	126,694
Corporate | Guitar Center
Financial information of reporting segments
Adjusted EBITDA	(3,793)	(4,229)	(9,073)	(13,711)
Total assets	$ 98,108	$ 123,472	$ 98,108	$ 123,472