Merchandise advances Merchandise Advances Represents layaway deposits which are recorded as a liability pending consummation of the sale when the full purchase price is received from the customer, outstanding gift certificates or gift cards which are recorded as a liability until redemption by the customer, credit on account for customer returns and special orders. Document and Entity Information Cash Paid During the Period [Abstract] Cash paid during the period for: Balance Sheet Components Amendment Description Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $3,136 and $2,979, respectively Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Document Period End Date Entity [Domain] Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization Intangible assets, accumulated amortization (in dollars) Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Property and equipment, accumulated depreciation and amortization (in dollars) Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Legal Entity [Axis] Document Type Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts (in dollars) Amortization of deferred financing fees Amortization of Financing Costs Due to Guitar Center Holdings, Inc. Due to Affiliate, Noncurrent CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS Cash Cash at beginning of period Cash at end of period Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Interest Interest Paid Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Merchandise inventories Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Prepaid expenses and other current assets Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Accounts payable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Liabilities Accrued expenses and other current liabilities Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock, shares issued Common Stock, Shares, Issued Balance (in shares) Balance (in shares) Common stock, shares outstanding Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Common stock, $0.01 par value, 20,000 shares authorized, 9,742 issued and outstanding Common stock, $0.01 par value, 1,000 shares authorized, 100 shares issued and outstanding Common Stock, Value, Issued Comprehensive income (loss) Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Comprehensive Income (Loss) Note [Text Block] Comprehensive Loss Condensed Financial Statements of Parent Company Only Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Text Block] Cost of goods sold, buying and occupancy Cost of Revenue Total current liabilities Liabilities, Current Current liabilities: Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Current portion of long-term debt Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Current Long-term debt Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Long-Term Debt Deferred income taxes Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Liabilities, Noncurrent Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Derivatives and Hedging Activities Stock-based compensation Share-based Compensation Financing fees Payments of Financing Costs (Gain) loss on disposal of property and equipment Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment Gross profit Gross Profit Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use Impairment of property and equipment Impairment of goodwill Goodwill, Impairment Loss Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) Impairment of intangible assets Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Income Taxes Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $178,464 and $171,259, respectively Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) Goodwill, net Goodwill Interest expense Interest Expense Merchandise inventories Inventory, Net Total liabilities Due to Guitar Center Holdings, Inc. Liabilities Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit) Liabilities and Equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) Liabilities and Equity [Abstract] Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations Operating activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Advances to Guitar Center Holdings, Inc. Proceeds from (Repayments of) Related Party Debt Proceeds from (Repayments of) Secured Debt Net change in borrowings under ABL Net income Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic Net income (loss) Net loss Operating income Operating Income (Loss) Operating income Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax Unrealized gain (loss) on hedging arrangement, net of income tax expense (benefit) of ($262) and $231 for the year ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment on Derivatives Included in Net Income, Net of Tax Amortization of deferred losses on derivative instruments de-designated as cash flow hedges Unrealized gain (loss) on hedging arrangement, income tax expense (benefit) Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Tax Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block] Employee Benefit Plan Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized Preferred stock, shares issued Preferred Stock, Shares Issued Preferred stock, shares outstanding Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Proceeds from sale of property and equipment Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $209,303 and $194,763, respectively Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Acquisition of intangible assets Payments to Acquire Intangible Assets Purchase of property and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block] Related Party Transactions Repayment of long-term debt Repayments of Long-term Debt Repurchase of common stock Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Restructuring and Related Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Restructuring and Exit Activities Accumulated deficit Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Net sales Sales Revenue, Goods, Net VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Text Block] Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Segment Information Selling, general and administrative expenses Selling, General and Administrative Expense Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Plan Modification, Incremental Compensation Cost Modification of employee stock options CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS Stockholders' equity (deficit): Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Goodwill and Intangible Assets Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] Income Taxes Paid Income taxes Total current assets Assets, Current Current assets: Assets, Current [Abstract] Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Diluted (in shares) Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Basic (in shares) Subsidiaries [Member] GUITAR CENTER, INC. Common Stock Common Stock [Member] Total assets Assets Interest income Investment Income, Interest Other long-term liabilities Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Stock-Based Compensation Scenario, Unspecified [Domain] Statement [Table] Statement, Scenario [Axis] Assets Assets [Abstract] Statement Statement [Line Items] Assets acquired under capital lease Capital Lease Obligations Incurred Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Fair Value Measurements Quarterly Financial Information [Text Block] Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited) Investing activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Financing activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations Net cash used in investing activities Net cash used in financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations Accumulated other comprehensive loss Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cumulative Changes in Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges, Effect Net of Tax Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] Stockholders' Equity, Period Increase (Decrease) Other assets, net Other Assets, Noncurrent Earnings Per Share Net loss per share: Income (loss) before income taxes Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Total stockholders' equity (deficit) Balance Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Income tax expense Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income tax expense (benefit) Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 5,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding Preferred Stock, Value, Issued Comprehensive Loss Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Additional Paid-in Capital Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Accumulated Deficit Retained Earnings [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Equity Component [Domain] Non-cash interest expense Paid-in-Kind Interest Exercise of employee stock options, including tax benefit of $171 for the year ended December 31, 2009 Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value Repurchase of common stock Exercise of employee stock options (in shares) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares Repurchase of common stock (in shares) Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Period Increase (Decrease) Comprehensive Loss Comprehensive Income [Member] Non-cash investing and financing activities: Cash Flow, Noncash Investing and Financing Activities Disclosure [Abstract] Exercise of employee stock options, tax benefit Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Earnings Per Share Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract] Weighted-average common shares outstanding: Depreciation and amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Lease Commitments Commitments and contingencies Total liabilities Commitments and Contingencies Lease Commitments Leases of Lessee Disclosure [Text Block] Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current Accrued expenses and other current liabilities Accrued Liabilities, Current Stock-based compensation expense Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition Prepaid expenses and other current assets Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Continuing Operations Net increase in cash Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies Organization, Consolidation, Basis of Presentation, Business Description and Accounting Policies [Text Block] Merchandise advances Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Revenue and Customer Advances and Deposits Legal Legal Matters and Contingencies [Text Block] Legal Income Taxes Condensed Financial Statements of Parent Company Only Goodwill and Intangible Assets Fair Value Measurements Subsequent Events [Text Block] Subsequent Events Long-Term Debt Employee Benefit Plan Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited) Derivatives and Hedging Activities Stock-Based Compensation Restructuring and Exit Activities Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies Segment Information Related Party Transactions Subsequent Events VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS Balance Sheet Components Supplemental Balance Sheet Disclosures [Text Block] Other assets, net Increase (Decrease) in Other Noncurrent Assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Noncurrent Liabilities Other long-term liabilities Basic and diluted (in dollars per share) Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Other comprehensive income Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, before Tax Unrealized loss on hedging arrangements Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment on Derivatives Included in Net Income, before Tax Reclassification adjustment for accumulated losses on hedging arrangements included in net income (loss) Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent Income tax expense on other comprehensive income Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent Other comprehensive income, net of income tax expense of $28 and $7, respectively CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)