CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (Guitar Center Holdings, Inc.) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
Net sales	$ 628,211	$ 496,231	$ 486,598	$ 528,151	$ 612,595	$ 488,129	$ 479,053	$ 502,800	$ 597,517	$ 465,007	$ 460,957	$ 487,414	$ 2,139,191	$ 2,082,577	$ 2,010,895
Cost of goods sold, buying and occupancy													1,495,800	1,447,434	1,405,044
Gross profit	185,993	147,362	146,460	163,576	189,225	144,253	145,549	156,116	188,012	134,509	134,333	148,997	643,391	635,143	605,851
Selling, general and administrative expenses													547,724	579,226	546,135
Impairment of intangible assets														45,961
Impairment of goodwill														107,026
Operating income (loss)													95,667	(97,070)	59,716
Interest expense													(165,378)	(161,250)	(145,572)
Interest income													34	214	339
Income (loss) before income taxes													(69,677)	(258,106)	(85,517)
Income tax expense (benefit)													2,492	(21,167)	(29,140)
Net income (loss)													(72,169)	(236,939)	(56,377)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax													173	210	(440)
Comprehensive income (loss)													$ (71,996)	$ (236,729)	$ (56,817)