Fair Value Measurements (Details 2) (Discounted cash flow, Level 3 inputs, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Direct Response \| Trade name/ trademark
Fair value measurements
Fair value of Trademarks and trade names		$ 11,500
Weighted-average cost of capital (as a percent)		16.50%
Long-term revenue growth rate (as a percent)		1.00%
Direct Response \| Trade name/ trademark \| Minimum
Fair value measurements
Royalty rates (as a percent)		0.005
Direct Response \| Trade name/ trademark \| Maximum
Fair value measurements
Royalty rates (as a percent)		0.015
Direct Response \| Customer relationship intangible asset
Fair value measurements
Fair value of Customer relationship intangible asset		6,800
Weighted-average cost of capital (as a percent)		17.50%
Direct Response \| Customer relationship intangible asset \| Minimum
Fair value measurements
Customer attrition rate (as a percent)		0.250
Direct Response \| Customer relationship intangible asset \| Maximum
Fair value measurements
Customer attrition rate (as a percent)		0.599
Guitar Center \| Specific-store leasehold improvements
Fair value measurements
Fair value of Specific-store leasehold improvements	$ 195	$ 745
Weighted-average cost of capital (as a percent)	9.80%	10.90%
Long-term revenue growth rate (as a percent)	3.00%	3.00%

Represents the percentage of customer attrition rate, used as an input to measure fair value.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	gch_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the percentage of royalty rates, used as an input to measure fair value.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	gch_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
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- Details

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- Definition

Interest rate used to find the present value of an amount to be paid or received in the future as an input to measure fair value. For example, but not limited to, weighted average cost of capital (WACC), cost of capital, cost of equity and cost of debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (bbb)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7578670&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of assumed long-term growth in revenues, used as an input to measure fair value.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the sum of all intangible assets having statutory or estimated useful lives.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 157

-Paragraph 33

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents various capitalized rights and intangible assets, excluding goodwill, having a projected indefinite period of benefit.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

Tangible assets that are held by an entity for use in the production or supply of goods and services, for rental to others, or for administrative purposes and that are expected to provide economic benefit for more than one year; net of accumulated depreciation. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software, net of accumulated depreciation.

+ References

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant