SCHEDULE I - Condensed Financial Statement of Parent Company Only (Details 4) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Basis of Presentation
Restricted net assets as a percentage of consolidated assets for filing	25.00%
Restricted net assets of the consolidated subsidiary	$ 243,000,000
Long-Term Debt
Interest payable settled with cash payments	141,291,000	157,461,000	69,001,000
Guitar Center, Inc.
Long-Term Debt
Interest payable settled with cash payments	81,619,000	77,898,000	69,001,000
Senior PIK notes
Long-Term Debt
Interest payment due	79,600,000
Interest payable settled with cash payments	59,700,000
Senior unsecured notes | Guitar Center, Inc.
Long-Term Debt
Notes issued	$ 19,900,000