<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion><documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-12</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0001021113</issuerCik>        <issuerName>GUITAR CENTER INC</issuerName><issuerTradingSymbol>GTRC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001106651</rptOwnerCik>            <rptOwnerName>THOMAS LAWRENCE</rptOwnerName>        </reportingOwnerId>        <reportingOwnerAddress>            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>        </reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chairman and Co-CEO</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-12</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-05-12</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2843</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>23</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>475803</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>trust</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">(1) Shares sold pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 Plan.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Bruce L. Ross</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-12</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

