Guitar Center is an American chain of musical instrument retailers. It currently has over 294 stores in the United States. Its corporate headquarters are located in Westlake Village, California. The company’s mission is to provide quality musical instruments at affordable prices. The chain currently employs over 11,000 people. Guitar Center offers a wide range of musical instruments and is popular with musicians of all skill levels.
The price of the equipment you rent at Guitar Center will depend on the type of equipment you choose and how long you plan to lease it. A typical Guitar Center lease can cost nearly twice as much as buying a brand-new instrument. These leases are ideal for beginners who have no credit history and need the equipment right away, but still want to own it later.
Guitar Center is the world’s largest chain of musical instrument retailers. With over two hundred and sixty locations, the company serves consumers from novice to professional musician. Its Music & Arts division has served musicians and music educators for over five decades. Its mission is to make buying and playing musical instruments as easy as possible.
The company’s finances have been in turmoil for several years. Not due to poor management, but due to changing consumer behavior and the state of the economy. In 2007 the company agreed to a $1.9 billion buyout offer from Bain Capital, which included Guitar Center’s debt. The deal was structured so that the per-share price was at a 26% premium to current share prices. The deal was approved by the shareholders of the company.
The Guitar Center Legends Collection includes guitars owned by Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and U2’s The Edge. These guitars were purchased at the Clapton Crossroads Centre charity auction in 2004. They’re now displayed in a display case at the flagship Guitar Center store in Times Square.
Guitar Center has also sponsored drum-off competitions in the past. These competitions have featured such notable artists as Terry Bozzio (Frank Zappa), Dennis Chambers (Parliament/Funkadelic), and Steve Gadd. Other notable competitors include Chas Smith, Travis Barker, and Questlove.
For people who want to buy a guitar but cannot afford to pay the full price, Guitar Center offers flexible financing options. The Guitar Center Gear Card offers low-interest financing to customers with fair credit. Guitar Center also offers a layaway program. Alternatively, the Guitar Center lease-to-own program is available for consumers who need to pay in a fixed monthly amount over a 48-month period.