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GUITAR CENTER TEAMS UP WITH DW, SABIAN & PRO-MARK —
INTRODUCES THE DW NEIL PEART COMMEMORATIVE R30 DRUMKIT

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA, October 18, 2006 — Following last year’s nationwide tour of Neil Peart’s actual drum kit, accompanied by long-time drum technician Lorne Wheaton, musical instrument retailer Guitar Center, Inc. (Nasdaq:GTRC) has teamed up with Drum Workshop (DW) and SABIAN cymbals to recreate the legendary drummer’s “R30” drum kit in honor of 30 years of the enduring legacy of RUSH. The DW Neil Peart Commemorative R30 Drum Kit delivers unmatched sound and is replicated right down to the minutest detail.

Each drum is made from hand-selected maple wood with an inner ply of curly maple, while the finish is an extreme custom lacquer process that involves hologram appliqués of icons (inspired by Keith Moon’s "Pictures of Lily" kit) representing many of RUSH's most famous recordings and tours. Each Black Mirra Flake panel is lined with red pin striping and the entire kit including hardware and pedals are custom plated in rich 24-carat gold. The R30 kit also includes a full complement of Neil’s SABIAN Paragon cymbals, which he worked closely with SABIAN to develop. The kit comes complete with 30 pairs of Pro-Mark Neil Peart Commemorative Drum Sticks, an exclusive DVD titled The Making of the R30 Drumkit, as well as a Certificate of Authenticity personally signed by Neil Peart.

Guitar Center is making this once-in-a-lifetime, limited production (only 30 are being produced) DW Neil Peart Commemorative R30 Drum Kit available on October 30th at $30,000.00. For more information, please visit http://www.guitarcenter.com/peart/.

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 more than 190 Guitar Center stores across the United States. In addition, our Music & Arts division operates more than 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.

The Guitar Center logo is a registered trademark of Guitar Center, Inc. Other brand or product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

MEDIA CONTACT: Robert Clyne, Neilson/Clyne at (615) 662-1616

 

Copyright ©2006, Neilson/Clyne, Inc., All Rights Reserved.
Contact: info@neilsonclyne.com