Guitar Center

The Guitar Center story began in 1959 when Wayne Mitchell purchased a small appliance and home organ store in Hollywood, California. In 1964, Joe Banaran approached Wayne in search of an outlet to sell a new line of guitars and amplifiers called Vox. Wayne agreed and renamed the store The Vox Center. The late sixties rechristened The Vox Center as The Guitar Center. Guitar Center reached the 100th store mark with the grand opening of the Little Rock, Ark., store in 2002. In 2005, G.C.'s acquisition of Music & Arts Center brought 62 new stores throughout the United States, catering to a completely new instrument market. The company s products include recording equipment, drums and percussion, disc jockey equipment and lighting, basses, live sound, amps, keyboards and musical instrument digital interface equipment, effects machines, guitars and a variety of accessories. The Guitar Center has a location in La Mesa, Calif.