Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited) (Details) (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
Quarterly financial data (unaudited)
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
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
Net income (loss)	(1,538)	(25,658)	(28,763)	(16,210)	(172,153)	(27,383)	(25,952)	(11,451)	(2,202)	(23,050)	(20,134)	(10,991)	(72,169)	(236,939)	(56,377)
Guitar Center
Quarterly financial data (unaudited)
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
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
Net income (loss)	$ 7,703	$ (2,038)	$ (4,817)	$ 2,547	$ (129,320)	$ (13,759)	$ (12,398)	$ 1,772	$ 10,427	$ (11,119)	$ (8,332)	$ 160	$ 3,395	$ (153,705)	$ (8,864)