CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Operating activities:
Net loss	$ (453,033,000)	$ (70,631,000)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	65,197,000	67,404,000
Impairment of property and equipment	1,731,000	559,000
Impairment of intangible assets	2,300,000
Impairment of goodwill	360,100,000
Net gain on disposal of property and equipment	(38,000)	(2,000)
Amortization of deferred financing fees	2,664,000	2,388,000
Non-cash interest expense		18,637,000
Stock-based compensation	681,000	704,000
Deferred income taxes	(470,000)	(103,000)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable	977,000	(1,381,000)
Merchandise inventories	(46,072,000)	(99,370,000)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(4,882,000)	(3,741,000)
Other assets, net	(17,000)	(100,000)
Accounts payable	35,181,000	36,389,000
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	7,880,000	1,869,000
Merchandise advances	(4,662,000)	(2,874,000)
Other long-term liabilities	997,000	1,340,000
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(161,250,000)	(48,912,000)
Investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment	(44,080,000)	(48,781,000)
Net proceeds from disposal of property and equipment	44,000	2,909,000
Acquisition of businesses	(1,143,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	(45,179,000)	(45,872,000)
Financing activities:
Borrowings on asset-based revolving credit facility	354,000,000	57,000,000
Repayment of asset-based revolving credit facility	(189,000,000)	(57,000,000)
Repayment of long-term debt	(4,453,000)	(484,000)
Financing fees	(2,928,000)	(742,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	157,619,000	(1,265,000)
Net decrease in cash	(48,810,000)	(96,049,000)
Cash at beginning of period	74,836,000	106,036,000
Cash at end of period	26,026,000	9,987,000
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest	223,706,000	90,264,000
Income taxes	921,000	2,189,000
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Assets acquired under capital lease	470,000
GUITAR CENTER, INC.
Operating activities:
Net loss	(410,975,000)	(4,308,000)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	65,197,000	67,404,000
Impairment of property and equipment	1,731,000	559,000
Impairment of intangible assets	2,300,000
Impairment of goodwill	360,100,000
Net gain on disposal of property and equipment	(38,000)	(2,000)
Amortization of deferred financing fees	2,356,000	2,079,000
Non-cash interest expense		404,000
Stock-based compensation	681,000	704,000
Deferred income taxes	5,195,000	(13,803,000)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable	977,000	(1,381,000)
Merchandise inventories	(46,072,000)	(99,370,000)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(4,882,000)	(4,632,000)
Other assets, net	(17,000)	(100,000)
Accounts payable	35,181,000	36,389,000
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	246,000	8,460,000
Merchandise advances	(4,662,000)	(2,874,000)
Other long-term liabilities	997,000	1,340,000
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	8,315,000	(9,131,000)
Investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment	(44,080,000)	(48,781,000)
Net proceeds from disposal of property and equipment	44,000	2,909,000
Acquisition of businesses	(1,143,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	(45,179,000)	(45,872,000)
Financing activities:
Borrowings on asset-based revolving credit facility	354,000,000	57,000,000
Repayment of asset-based revolving credit facility	(189,000,000)	(57,000,000)
Repayment of long-term debt	(4,453,000)	(484,000)
Financing fees	(2,928,000)	(742,000)
Repayment to Guitar Center Holdings, Inc.	(169,565,000)	(39,820,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(11,946,000)	(41,046,000)
Net decrease in cash	(48,810,000)	(96,049,000)
Cash at beginning of period	74,836,000	106,036,000
Cash at end of period	26,026,000	9,987,000
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest	54,140,000	50,483,000
Income taxes	921,000	2,189,000
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Assets acquired under capital lease	$ 470,000