-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 cUveoBtqEt/bdFqMWgjijA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-05-004785.txt : 20050303
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-05-004785.hdr.sgml : 20050303
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050303183026
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-05-004785
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050217
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050303
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050303

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GUITAR CENTER INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001021113
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-RADIO TV & CONSUMER ELECTRONICS STORES [5731]
		IRS NUMBER:				954600862
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5795 LINDERO CANYON RD
		CITY:			WESTLAKE VILLAGE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91362
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8187358800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5795 LINDERO CANYON RD
		CITY:			WESTLAKE VILLAGE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91362

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GUITAR CENTER MANAGEMENT CO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960816

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EASTMAN ROBERT
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001088531

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22207
		FILM NUMBER:		05659226

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		931 CHEVY WAY
		CITY:			MEDFORD
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97504
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5418571100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2271 JOHNS PEAK RD
		CITY:			CENTRAL POINT
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97502
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4/A -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-02-17</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2005-02-18</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001021113</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GUITAR CENTER INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GTRC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001088531</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EASTMAN ROBERT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O GUITAR CENTER, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5795 LINDERO CANYON ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WESTLAKE VILLAGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91362</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CEO of Subsidiary</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>23798</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.938</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>873</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>23798</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>58.5211</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>873</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>15.938</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>23798</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>58.5211</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-04-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>23798</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The options vested in equal installments on April 5, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>This amendment is being filed for the sole purpose of correcting the Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Bruce L. Ross (attorney in fact)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-03-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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