CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Guitar Center Holdings, Inc.) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Current assets:
Cash	$ 74,836	$ 106,036	$ 193,767	$ 119,701
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,849 and $2,979, respectively	44,015	44,732
Merchandise inventories	564,959	547,960
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	23,285	26,984
Deferred income taxes	3,165	937
Total current assets	710,260	726,649
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $250,835 and $194,763, respectively	213,969	209,097
Goodwill	582,378	582,378	689,404
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $200,040 and $171,259, respectively	291,269	320,140
Other assets, net	18,682	20,802
Total assets	1,816,558	1,859,066	2,120,718
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	116,973	120,010
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	132,119	128,787
Merchandise advances	34,901	30,982
Current portion of long-term debt	135,725	646
Total current liabilities	419,718	280,425
Other long-term liabilities	20,669	18,690
Deferred income taxes	79,537	76,529
Long-term debt	1,445,654	1,561,489
Total liabilities	1,965,578	1,937,133
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' deficit:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 5,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 20,000 shares authorized, 9,740 and 9,742 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	97	97
Additional paid-in capital	633,800	632,757
Accumulated deficit	(782,917)	(710,748)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(173)
Total stockholder's equity (deficit)	(149,020)	(78,067)	157,396	211,724
Total liabilities and stockholder's equity (deficit)	$ 1,816,558	$ 1,859,066