-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 RRKN+zxb9mrykOPTYni17g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001125282-03-004890.txt : 20030814
<SEC-HEADER>0001125282-03-004890.hdr.sgml : 20030814
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030814160816
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001125282-03-004890
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030812
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030814

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:			J P MORGAN CHASE & CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000019617
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22207
		FILM NUMBER:		03847806

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		270 PARK AVE
		STREET 2:		39TH FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2122706000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		270 PARK AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CHASE MANHATTAN CORP /DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960402

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CHEMICAL BANKING CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CHEMICAL NEW YORK CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19880508
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>b326574_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-08-12</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001021113</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GUITAR CENTER INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GTRC</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000019617</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>J P MORGAN CHASE &amp; CO</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O J.P. MORGAN PARTNERS LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1221 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS - 40TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10020</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>0</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-08-12</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>15000</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>32.90</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>1112175</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
            <value>see footnote</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-08-12</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>10000</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>32.94</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>1112175</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
            <value>see footnote</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-08-12</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>30000</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>32.95</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>1112175</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
            <value>see footnote</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-08-12</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>10000</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>33.32</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>1112175</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
            <value>see footnote</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
 </nonDerivativeTable>
 <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Stock Option (right to purchase)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>16.6500</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2002-07-26</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2011-07-26</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>2000</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>667</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
           <value>see footnote</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
   <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Stock Option (right to purchase)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>19.4750</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2003-05-03</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2012-05-03</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>4666</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>4666</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
           <value>see footnote</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
   <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Stock Option (right to purchase)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>19.2350</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2004-04-26</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2011-04-26</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>1666</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>1666</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
           <value>see footnote</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
   <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Stock Option (right to purchase)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>23.150</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2004-04-30</value>
            <footnoteId id="F5"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2013-04-30</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>7000</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>7000</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
           <value>see footnote</value>
            <footnoteId id="F6"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
 </derivativeTable>
   <footnotes>
      <footnote id="F1"> The amounts shown represent the direct and indirect beneficial ownership of the Issuer's equity securities by J.P. Morgan Partners (SBIC), LLC (&quot;JPM SBIC&quot;) and J.P. Morgan Partners (BHCA), L.P. (&quot;JPM BHCA&quot;), a portion of which may be deemed attributable to the Reporting Person because it is the sole stockholder of JPMP Capital Corporation, the general partner of JPMP Master Fund Manager, L.P. (&quot;MF Manager&quot;), the general partner of JPM BHCA. The actual pro rata portion of such beneficial ownership that may be deemed attributable to the Reporting Person is not readily determinable because it is subject to several variables, including the internal rate of return and vesting of interest of JPM BHCA and MF Manager.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F2"> The stock options were granted to Jeffrey Walker, a director of the Issuer, the President of JPM SBIC and a limited partner of JPMP Master Fund Manager, L.P., the general partner of JPM BHCA. Mr. Walker is obligated to exercise the options, and to transfer any shares issued under the stock options to JPM SBIC, at the request of JPM SBIC.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F3"> These options become exercisable in three annual installments, commencing July 27, 2002, July 27, 2003 and July 27, 2004.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F4"> These options become exercisable in three annual installments, commencing May 3, 2003, May 3, 2004 and May 3, 2005.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F5"> These options become exercisable in three annual installments, commencing May 3, 2004, May 3, 2005 and May 3, 2006.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F6"> The amounts shown in the last rows off Table II represents the direct beneficial ownership of the Issuer's equity securities by JPM SBIC, a portion of which may be deemed attributable to the Reporting Person because it is the sole stockholder of JPMP Capital Corporation, the general partner of MF Manager, the general partner of JPM BHCA. The actual pro rata portion of such beneficial ownership that may be deemed attributable to the Reporting Person is not readily determinable because it is subject to several variables, including the internal rate of return and vesting of interest of JPM BHCA and MF Manager.</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>Jeffrey C. Walker</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-08-14</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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