Guitar Center Introduces GuitarCenter.com Online Retail Store; GuitarCenter.com Now Brings Guitar Center's Extensive Product Ra

Guitar Center (Nasdaq:GTRC) today announced the
introduction of GuitarCenter.com as the centerpiece of the Company's
online retail offering. For the first time, consumers can visit
GuitarCenter.com to search, compare and buy direct from one of the
largest selections of guitars, basses, amps, keyboards, drums, pro
audio, DJ, lighting and accessories. The enhanced website broadens
Guitar Center's online presence and builds upon its existing direct
response business and eCommerce website, MusiciansFriend.com. The
introduction of the GuitarCenter.com online store completes the first
phase of the Company's plan to become a fully integrated retailer. The
next phases of the Company's plan involve the addition of kiosks in
Guitar Center stores to allow customers to search for products
throughout the chain and on the website and eventually the integration
of its Guitar Center stores and GuitarCenter.com to enable customers
to complete purchases online and pick up or exchange merchandise at
stores.
   "The introduction of GuitarCenter.com as an eCommerce website is
an integral component of our overall direct response strategy for the
Company," stated Marty Albertson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of Guitar Center. "From a long-term perspective an integrated retailer
can build stronger customer loyalty and, in turn, increase repeat
traffic and sales. By leveraging both GuitarCenter.com as well as our
existing direct response business and MusiciansFriend.com, we are
better able to cater to different types of customers. We are not only
strengthening our offerings of music gear but we are also extending
Guitar Center's brand awareness. Our vision is to turn Guitar Center
into a world class multi-channel retailer that better understands and
serves the musician community across all purchase occasions and
expanding our online presence positions us to achieve this goal."

   About Guitar Center

   Guitar Center is the leading United States retailer of guitars,
amplifiers, percussion instruments, keyboards and pro-audio and
recording equipment. Our retail store subsidiary presently operates
183 Guitar Center stores across the United States. In addition, our
Music & Arts division operates 90 stores specializing in band
instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers, band directors,
college professors and students. We are also the largest direct
response retailer of musical instruments in the United States through
our wholly owned subsidiary, Musician's Friend, Inc., and its catalog
and web site, www.musiciansfriend.com. More information on Guitar
Center can be found by visiting the Company's web site at
www.guitarcenter.com.

   Business Risks and Forward Looking Statements

   This press release contains forward-looking statements relating
to, among other things, plans regarding GuitarCenter.com. Sales and
earnings trends are affected by many factors including, among others,
world and national political events, including general economic
conditions, the effectiveness of our promotion and merchandising
strategies, our ability to integrate and profitably operate acquired
businesses, the efficient operation of our supply chain, including the
continued support of our key vendors, our effective management of
business risks, including litigation, and competitive factors
applicable to our retail and direct response markets.
   In light of these risks, the forward-looking statements contained
in this press release are not guarantees of future performance and in
fact may not be realized. Our actual results could differ materially
and adversely from those expressed in this press release. Further, the
statements made by us above represent our views only as of the date of
this press release, and it should not be assumed that the statements
made herein remain accurate as of any future date. We do not presently
intend to update these statements prior to our next quarterly earnings
release and undertake no duty to any person to effect any such update
under any circumstances.
   Investors are also urged to review carefully the discussion under
the caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2005, which has been filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission and may be accessed through the EDGAR database
maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.