SEC FORM 4

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number:			3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:			0.5

Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

J P MORGAN PARTNERS SBIC LLC

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

C/O J.P. MORGAN PARTNERS LLC

1221 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS - 40TH FLOOR

(Street)

NEW YORK

10020

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
GUITAR CENTER INC [ GTRC ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

Director	X	10% Owner
Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
08/12/2003

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Common Stock	08/12/2003		S		15,000	D	$32.9	1,112,175	D⁽¹⁾
Common Stock	08/12/2003		S		10,000	D	$32.94	1,112,175	D⁽¹⁾
Common Stock	08/12/2003		S		30,000	D	$32.95	1,112,175	D⁽¹⁾
Common Stock	08/12/2003		S		10,000	D	$33.32	1,112,175	D⁽¹⁾

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)		10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Stock Option (right to purchase)	$16.65							07/26/2002⁽²⁾	07/26/2011	Common Stock	666		666	I	see footnote⁽³⁾
Stock Option (right to purchase)	$19.475							05/03/2003⁽⁴⁾	05/03/2012	Common Stock	4,666		4,666	I	see footnote⁽³⁾
Stock Option (right to purchase)	$19.235							04/26/2004	04/26/2011	Common Stock	1,666		1,666	I	see footnote⁽³⁾
Stock Option (right to purchase)	$23.15							04/30/2004⁽⁵⁾	04/30/2013	Common Stock	7,000		7,000	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. The amounts shown represent the direct and indirect beneficial ownership of the Issuer's equity securities by J.P. Morgan Partners (SBIC), LLC ("JPM SBIC") and its sole member, J.P. Morgan Partners (BHCA), L.P. ("JPM BHCA").

2. These options become exercisable in three annual installments, commencing July 27, 2002, July 27, 2003 and July 27, 2004.

3. 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.

4. These options become exercisable in three annual installments, commencing May 3, 2003, May 3, 2004 and May 3, 2005.

5. These options become exercisable in three annual installments, commencing May 3, 2004, May 3, 2005 and May 3, 2006.

	Jeffrey C. Walker	08/14/2003
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.