Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Current:
Federal			$ (268,000)
State	1,943,000	4,254,000	3,469,000
Total current tax provision	1,943,000	4,254,000	3,201,000
Deferred:
Federal		(20,991,000)	(28,797,000)
State	549,000	(4,430,000)	(3,544,000)
Total deferred tax provision	549,000	(25,421,000)	(32,341,000)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	2,492,000	(21,167,000)	(29,140,000)
Federal statutory tax rate (as a percent)	35.00%
Reconciliation of income tax
Expected income tax benefit	(24,387,000)	(90,337,000)	(29,622,000)
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit	2,492,000	(1,463,000)	(440,000)
Goodwill impairment		37,460,000
Stock options	567,000		(159,000)
Change in valuation allowance	23,348,000	32,247,000
Meals & entertainment and non-deductible items	352,000	348,000	337,000
Other	120,000	578,000	744,000
Actual income tax expense (benefit)	2,492,000	(21,167,000)	(29,140,000)
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss	50,194,000	43,179,000
State net operating loss carryforward	2,247,000	2,042,000
Accrued liabilities	26,488,000	26,572,000
Merchandise inventories	3,215,000	2,961,000
Intangibles	8,743,000	8,084,000
Stock options	2,504,000	2,652,000
Capital loss carryover	133,000	129,000
Fixed assets	4,893,000	(2,203,000)
Total gross deferred tax assets	98,417,000	83,416,000
Less valuation allowance	(58,210,000)	(32,558,000)
Net deferred tax assets	40,207,000	50,858,000
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation	(5,534,000)	(5,813,000)
Intangibles	(110,864,000)	(120,196,000)
Other	(181,000)	(441,000)
Total gross deferred tax liabilities	(116,579,000)	(126,450,000)
Net deferred tax liabilities	(76,372,000)	(75,592,000)
Increase in valuation allowance	25,700,000	32,200,000
Tax benefit from employee stock options	0	0	600,000
Guitar Center
Current:
Federal	20,005,000	4,917,000	16,004,000
State	4,750,000	3,620,000	1,335,000
Total current tax provision	24,755,000	8,537,000	17,339,000
Deferred:
Federal	(16,584,000)	(29,171,000)	(16,823,000)
State	(1,268,000)	(3,516,000)	(2,778,000)
Total deferred tax provision	(17,852,000)	(32,687,000)	(19,601,000)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	6,903,000	(24,150,000)	(2,262,000)
Reconciliation of income tax
Expected income tax benefit	3,604,000	(62,249,000)	(3,894,000)
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit	2,280,000	(253,000)	746,000
Goodwill impairment		37,460,000
Stock options	567,000		(159,000)
Meals & entertainment and non-deductible items	352,000	348,000	337,000
Other	100,000	544,000	708,000
Actual income tax expense (benefit)	6,903,000	(24,150,000)	(2,262,000)
Deferred tax assets:
Accrued liabilities	26,688,000	26,572,000
Merchandise inventories	3,215,000	2,961,000
Intangibles	8,743,000	8,084,000
Stock options	2,504,000	2,652,000
Capital loss carryover	133,000	129,000
Fixed assets	4,893,000	(2,203,000)
Total gross deferred tax assets	46,176,000	38,195,000
Less valuation allowance	(310,000)	(310,000)
Net deferred tax assets	45,866,000	37,885,000
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation	(5,534,000)	(5,813,000)
Intangibles	(110,864,000)	(120,196,000)
Other	(181,000)	(441,000)
Total gross deferred tax liabilities	(116,579,000)	(126,450,000)
Net deferred tax liabilities	$ (70,713,000)	$ (88,565,000)