Exhibit 10.2

EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE BENEFITS AGREEMENT

This EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE BENEFITS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made and
entered into effective as of April 29, 2006 (the “Commencement Date”), between
[Guitar Center, Inc.][Musician’s Friend, Inc.][Guitar Center Stores, Inc.], a
Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and                    (the “Executive”).

RECITALS:

A.   Executive is currently employed by the Company.

B.   The Company and Executive wish to set forth the compensation and benefits
which Executive shall be entitled to receive in the event Executive’s employment
with the Company is terminated under the circumstances described herein.

C.   This Agreement supercedes any prior Executive Severance Benefits Agreement
between the Company and Executive.

AGREEMENT:

In consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.   TERM OF AGREEMENT.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL COMMENCE ON THE COMMENCEMENT DATE
HEREOF AND SHALL CONTINUE IN EFFECT THROUGH APRIL 29, 2009 (THE “SCHEDULED
EXPIRATION DATE”); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT IN THE EVENT NEITHER PARTY TO THIS
AGREEMENT HAS GIVEN WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE OTHER PARTY OF ITS INTENT TO TERMINATE
THIS AGREEMENT BY THE DATE THAT IS ONE HUNDRED TWENTY (120) DAYS PRIOR TO THE
SCHEDULED EXPIRATION DATE (AS MAY BE EXTENDED BY OPERATION OF THIS SECTION 1),
THE SCHEDULED EXPIRATION DATE SHALL AUTOMATICALLY BE EXTENDED BY AN ADDITIONAL
TWELVE (12) MONTHS.

2.   SEVERANCE.

(a)   SEVERANCE.   No benefits shall be payable under this Agreement unless
there has been a Qualifying Termination.  For purposes of this Agreement, a
“Qualifying Termination” shall mean a termination of Executive’s employment with
the Company prior to the Scheduled Expiration Date (i) by the Company without
Cause or (ii) by the Executive with Reasonable Justification.  A termination of
Executive’s employment as a result of Executive’s death or Disability (as
defined below) shall not be a Qualifying Termination.  In the event of a
Qualifying Termination, Executive shall be entitled to receive the following
severance benefits, unless Executive has breached the provisions of this
Agreement, in which case the provisions of Section 8(a)(ii) shall apply:

(i)   ACCRUED BASE SALARY.   The Company shall pay to the Executive his current
base salary through the date of termination.

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(ii)   CASH SEVERANCE.   Subject to the provisions of Section 8(o), Executive
shall be entitled to receive, at the times specified in Section 2(b), severance
pay in an amount equal to the sum of:

(A)   EXECUTIVE’S CURRENT ANNUAL BASE SALARY AS IN EFFECT IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO
THE DATE OF TERMINATION, PAYABLE OVER THE TWELVE (12) MONTH PERIOD COMMENCING ON
THE DATE OF TERMINATION (THE “SEVERANCE PERIOD”); PLUS

(B)   an annual cash bonus equal to the last annual cash bonus (excluding any
portion thereof that the Chief Executive Officer of the Company considered
extraordinary and non-recurring) Executive received prior to termination, if any
(except as set forth in the immediately preceding clause, the Company shall not
be obligated to pay any bonus with respect to the year in which the date of
termination occurs or for any completed year for which bonuses have not yet been
allocated, regardless of the financial performance of the Company or any other
Company policy or prior practice); plus

(C)   any unpaid vacation accrued through the date of termination in accordance
with Company policy; plus

(D)   reimbursement for all outstanding expenses incurred by Executive prior to
the date of termination and in the course of performing Executive’s duties as an
employee of the Company which are consistent with the Company’s policies in
effect from time to time with respect to travel, entertainment and other
business expenses, subject to the Company’s requirements with respect to
reporting and documenting such expenses.

(iii)   BENEFITS.   In the event that Executive elects to continue group health
insurance coverage for himself and his eligible dependents who were covered
under the Company’s medical plans as of the date of termination, at the same
level in effect as of the date of termination, pursuant to the Consolidated
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), the Company
shall pay for the amount of his premium payments for such coverage for the
Severance Period (or, if such continuation is not permitted by the Company’s
insurers beyond the date of termination, a cash payment equal to the average
annual premium the Company pays to obtain health insurance for an employee).  In
the event Executive desires to discontinue this coverage, he shall notify the
Company in writing which shall promptly terminate the coverage benefit.

(iv)   COMPANY CAR.   Executive may at his sole expense elect to (A) assume the
lease on any Company-provided automobile used by Executive as of the date of
termination, if any, or, if such vehicle is owned by the Company, purchase such
vehicle at a price equal to its wholesale “blue book” value or (B) return such
vehicle to the Company as provided for in Section 8(h).

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(v)   EQUITY INCENTIVE PROGRAMS.   Following the date of termination,
Executive’s equity incentives, if any, shall continue to be governed by the
terms of the plan and agreements pursuant to which such equity incentives were
granted.

(A)   Notwithstanding the above, if at any time that Executive is employed by
the Company hereunder there is a Change in Control (as defined in the Guitar
Center, Inc. 2004 Incentive Stock Award Plan), all stock options then held by
the Executive shall immediately vest and become exercisable and/or all
restrictions on shares of restricted stock or restricted stock units then issued
to and held by the Executive (but excluding unissued equity interests including
without limitation performance shares allocated but not earned under any
long-term incentive plan) shall immediately lapse.

(B)   Notwithstanding the above, in the event of a Qualifying Termination,
Executive shall be permitted to exercise any of his non-qualified stock options
granted on or after April 29, 2006 for a period of one (1) year following the
date of such Qualifying Termination.

(vi)   LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN.   Following the date of termination,
Executive’s participation in the Guitar Center, Inc. 2005 Long Term Incentive
Plan (collectively with any successor plan or plans, the “LTIP”) shall continue
to be governed solely by the terms of the LTIP, it being expressly understood
that Section 2(a)(v) shall not be applicable to the LTIP or any interests
therein.

(b)   TIMING OF POST-TERMINATION PAYMENTS.   Subject to Section 8(o), the
severance payments provided for in Section 2(a)(ii)(A) above shall be paid
periodically in the same amounts and at the same intervals as Executive’s base
salary was paid immediately prior to the date of termination.  The severance
payment provided for in Section 2(a)(ii)(B) above shall be paid on the last day
of the Severance Period.  If Executive has breached the provisions of this
Agreement, the Company shall have the right to terminate the severance payments
provided for in this Section 2 pursuant to the provisions of Section 8(a)(ii).

(c)   TAXES.   Executive understands and agrees that all payments under this
Agreement will be subject to appropriate tax withholding and other deductions,
as and to the extent required by law.  To the extent any taxes may be payable by
the Executive for the benefits provided to him by this Agreement beyond those
withheld by the Company, the Executive agrees to pay them himself and to
indemnify and hold the Company and the other entities released herein harmless
for any tax claims or penalties, and associated attorneys’ fees and costs,
resulting from any failure by him to make required payments.

(d)   EXCLUSIVE REMEDY.   Except as otherwise expressly required by law (e.g.,
COBRA) or as specifically provided herein, all of the Executive’s rights to
salary, severance, benefits, bonuses and other amounts hereunder (if any)
accruing after the termination of Executive’s employment shall cease upon such
termination.  In the event of a termination of Executive’s employment with the
Company, the Executive’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be to receive the
severance payments and benefits described in this Section 2.  Executive shall
have no duty to mitigate any damages which Executive may suffer as a result of
any termination of

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employment nor shall the severance benefits payable to Executive be reduced by
any sums actually earned by Executive as a result of any other employment
obtained by Executive.

(e)   RELEASE.   As a condition to the Executive’s receipt of any
post-termination benefits described in this Agreement, the Executive shall be
required to execute a general release of all claims arising out of his
employment or the termination thereof, which general release will also include a
customary non-disparagement covenant from Executive (the “Executive Release”),
in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company.  Such Executive Release shall
specifically relate to all of the Executive’s rights and claims in existence at
the time of such execution but shall exclude any continuing obligations the
Company or any of its affiliates may have to the Executive following the date of
termination under this Agreement or any other agreement expressly providing for
obligations to survive the Executive’s termination of employment.

(f)   OTHER TERMINATION.   If the Employment Period is terminated prior to the
Scheduled Expiration Date for any reason other than by the Company without Cause
or by the Executive with Reasonable Justification, including as a result of
Executive’s death or Disability, the Executive shall be entitled to receive only
his base salary and then only to the extent such amount has accrued through the
date of termination.

(g)   DEFINITION OF CAUSE.   For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” means any
termination by the Company of Executive’s employment within ninety (90) days
after the Board of Guitar Center, Inc. (“Parent”) becomes aware of the
occurrence of any of the following:

(i)   the ongoing and repeated failure by the Executive to perform such lawful
duties consistent with Executive’s position as are reasonably requested by
either the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or the Board of Parent in good
faith as documented in writing to the Executive;

(ii)   the Executive’s ongoing and repeated material neglect of his duties on a
general basis, notwithstanding written notice of objection from either the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company or the Board of Parent and the expiration of a
thirty (30) day cure period;

(iii)   the commission by the Executive of any act of fraud, theft or criminal
dishonesty with respect to the Company or any of its affiliates, or the
conviction of the Executive of any felony;

(iv)   the Executive’s failure to adhere to all policies and procedures
established by the Company from time to time in its discretion, generally
applicable to all executives of the Company and disclosed to Executive,
including without limitation, any policies related to sexual harassment,
anti-discrimination and similar employment practices;

(v)   the commission of any act involving moral turpitude which (y) brings the
Company or any of its affiliates into public disrepute or disgrace, or (z)

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causes material injury to the customer relations, operations or the business
prospects of the Company or any of its affiliates; or

(vi)   material breach by the Executive of this Agreement, including, without
limitation, any breach by the Executive of the Confidentiality and
Noncompetition Agreements (as defined in Section 3 below), not cured within
thirty (30) days after written notice to Executive from either the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company or the Board of Parent; provided, however, that
in the event of an intentional breach of the provisions of the Confidentiality
and Noncompetition Agreements, the Executive shall not have the opportunity to
cure.

(h)   DEFINITION OF DISABILITY.   For purposes of this Agreement the term
“Disability” means any long-term disability or incapacity which (i) renders the
Executive unable to substantially perform all of his duties hereunder for ninety
(90) days during any one hundred eighty (180) day period or (ii) would
reasonably be expected to render the Executive unable to substantially perform
all of his duties for ninety (90) days during any one hundred eighty (180) day
period, in each case as determined by the Board of Parent (excluding the
Executive if he should be a member of the Board of Parent at the time of such
determination) in its good faith judgment after seeking and reviewing advice
from a qualified physician.

(i)   DEFINITION OF REASONABLE JUSTIFICATION.   For purposes of this Agreement,
“Reasonable Justification” means any voluntary termination by the Executive of
his employment with the Company within ninety (90) days after the occurrence of
any of the following events without Executive’s written consent:

(i)   the Executive is directed to perform an act that the Executive reasonably
believes after consultation with counsel to be in contravention of law, or which
the Executive reasonably believes would subject the Company and himself to
material liability, despite his prior express written objection addressed to the
Board of Parent with respect to such action;

(ii)   there has been any material reduction in the nature or scope of
Executive’s responsibilities, or the Executive is assigned duties that are
materially inconsistent with his position (in each case, other than on a
temporary basis);

(iii)   there is any material reduction in the Executive’s compensation or a
material reduction in Executive’s other benefits (other than reductions in
benefits that generally affect all employees entitled to such benefits ratably);

(iv)   the Executive is required by the Company or any of its affiliates, after
written objection by the Executive addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of
the Company, to relocate his principal place of employment outside a radius of
fifty (50) miles from his place of employment immediately prior to such
relocation; or

(v)   there is a material failure by the Company or any of its affiliates to
perform any of its obligations to the Executive under this Agreement;

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provided, however, that with respect to breaches of Section 2(h)(ii), (iii) and
(v), the Company shall be given written notice by Executive of such breach and
thirty (30) days to cure such breach.

3.   CONFIDENTIALITY AND NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENTS.   Executive acknowledges and
reaffirms his obligations to the Company pursuant to any confidentiality,
noncompetition and/or nonsolicitation agreements entered into by Executive with
the Company and/or its affiliates (the “Confidentiality and Noncompetition
Agreements”).

4.   NON-DISPARAGEMENT.   Executive agrees that he will not disparage or
denigrate to any person any aspect of his past relationship with the Company or
any of its affiliates, nor the character of the Company or any of its affiliates
or their respective agents, representatives, products, or operating methods,
whether past, present, or future, and whether or not based on or with reference
to their past relationship; provided, however, that this paragraph shall have no
application to any evidence or testimony requested of Executive by any court or
government agency.  In the event any government agency or any of Company’s or
any of its affiliates’ present or future labor unions, adverse parties in actual
or potential litigation, suppliers, service providers, employees or customers
initiate communications with the Executive, the Executive agrees that he will
only inform any such persons, consistent with this paragraph, of his change in
status and direct such persons to an appropriate office or current employee of
the Company.

5.   TRANSITIONAL INQUIRIES.   For a reasonable period of time following the
date of termination, Executive agrees to make himself available to the Company
to answer telephone inquiries related to the transition of his duties. 
Executive’s obligations pursuant to this Section 5 are a material inducement to
the Company’s entering into this Agreement with Executive.

6.   Right to Consult Counsel.   EXECUTIVE REPRESENTS AND AGREES THAT HE FULLY
UNDERSTANDS HIS RIGHT TO DISCUSS ALL ASPECTS OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH HIS PRIVATE
ATTORNEY, AND THAT TO THE EXTENT, IF ANY, THAT HE DESIRED, HE AVAILED HIMSELF OF
SUCH RIGHT.  EXECUTIVE FURTHER REPRESENTS THAT HE HAS CAREFULLY READ AND FULLY
UNDERSTANDS ALL OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT, THAT HE IS COMPETENT TO
EXECUTE THIS AGREEMENT, THAT HIS AGREEMENT TO EXECUTE THIS AGREEMENT HAS NOT
BEEN OBTAINED BY ANY DURESS AND THAT HE FREELY AND VOLUNTARILY ENTERS INTO IT,
AND THAT HE HAS READ THIS DOCUMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY AND FULLY UNDERSTANDS THE
MEANING, INTENT AND CONSEQUENCES OF THIS DOCUMENT.

7.   NOTICES.   All notices, requests, demands, claims, and other communications
hereunder shall be in writing.  Any notice, request, demand, claim or other
communication hereunder shall be delivered personally to the recipient,
delivered by United States Post Office mail (postage prepaid and return receipt
requested), telecopied to the intended recipient at the number set forth
therefor below (with hard copy to follow), or sent to the recipient by reputable
express courier service (charges prepaid) and addressed to the intended
recipient as set forth below:

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If to the Company, to:

Guitar Center, Inc.

5795 Lindero Canyon Road

Westlake Village, California  91362

Attention:  General Counsel

Telephone:  (818) 735-8800

Telecopier:  (818) 735-4923

If to the Executive, to the address noted on the signature page of this
Agreement or such other address as the recipient party to whom notice is to be
given may have furnished to the other party in writing in accordance herewith. 
Any such communication shall be deemed to have been delivered and received (a)
when delivered, if personally delivered, sent by telecopier or sent by overnight
courier, and (b) on the fifth business day following the date posted, if sent by
mail.

8.   GENERAL PROVISIONS.

(a)   SEVERABILITY/ENFORCEMENT.   (i)  It is the desire and intent of the
parties hereto that the provisions of this Agreement be enforced to the fullest
extent permissible under the laws and public policies applied in each
jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought.  Accordingly, if any particular
provision of this Agreement shall be adjudicated by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable for any reason, such
provision, as to such jurisdiction, shall be ineffective, without invalidating
the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or
enforceability of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of
such provision in any other jurisdiction.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if
such provision could be more narrowly drawn so as not to be invalid, prohibited
or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be so
narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement
or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other
jurisdiction.

(ii)   In addition to the foregoing, and not in any way in limitation thereof,
or in limitation of any right or remedy otherwise available to the Company, if
the Executive materially violates any provision of this Agreement, including,
without limitation, Section 5 hereof, or Executive’s Confidentiality and
Noncompetition Agreements, (and such violation, if unintentional on the part of
the Executive, continues for a period of twenty-one (21) days following receipt
of written notice from the Company), any severance payments then or thereafter
due from the Company to the Executive may be terminated forthwith and upon such
election by the Company, the Company’s obligation to pay and the Executive’s
right to receive such severance payments shall terminate and be of no further
force or effect.  The Executive’s obligations under this Agreement, including,
without limitation, Section 5 hereof,  or Executive’s Confidentiality and
Noncompetition Agreements shall not be limited or affected by, and such
provisions shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the termination
of any severance payments by the Company in accordance with this Section
8(a)(ii).  The exercise of the right to terminate such payments shall not be
deemed to be an election of remedies by the Company and shall not in any manner
modify, limit or preclude the Company from exercising any other rights or
seeking any other remedies available to it at law or in equity.

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(B)   COMPLETE AGREEMENT; SURVIVAL.   THIS AGREEMENT, THOSE DOCUMENTS EXPRESSLY
REFERRED TO HEREIN AND ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS OF EVEN DATE HEREWITH EMBODY THE
COMPLETE AGREEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING AMONG THE PARTIES AND SUPERSEDE AND PREEMPT
ANY PRIOR UNDERSTANDINGS, AGREEMENTS OR REPRESENTATIONS BY OR AMONG THE PARTIES,
WRITTEN OR ORAL, WHICH MAY HAVE RELATED TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF IN ANY WAY
INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY PRIOR EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE BENEFITS AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND EXECUTIVE; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THIS AGREEMENT SHALL
NOT AMEND, SUPERCEDE OR TERMINATE ANY RIGHTS GRANTED TO EXECUTIVE PURSUANT TO
ANY INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN EXECUTIVE AND THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE
OF THE COMPANY.  THE REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS MADE
HEREIN SHALL, AS APPLICABLE, SURVIVE ANY TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE TERMS.

(c)   SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.   Except as otherwise provided herein, this
Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
Executive and the Company and their respective successors, assigns, heirs,
representatives and estate; provided, however, that the rights and obligations
of the Executive under this Agreement shall not be assigned without the prior
written consent of the Company.  Without limiting the foregoing, it is expressly
acknowledged that the Company may transfer Executive and assign this Agreement
to any present or future affiliate of the Company.

(d)   GOVERNING LAW.   THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE DOMESTIC LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIAWITHOUT GIVING
EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICTING PROVISION OR RULE THAT WOULD CAUSE
THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO BE APPLIED.

(e)   ARBITRATION.

(i)   Unless otherwise provided herein, in the event that there shall be a
dispute (a “Dispute”) among the parties arising out of or relating to this
Agreement, or the breach thereof, the parties agree that such dispute shall be
resolved by final and binding arbitration before a single arbitrator in Los
Angeles County, California, administered by the American Arbitration Association
(the “AAA”), in accordance with AAA’s Employment ADR Rules.  The arbitrator’s
decision shall be final and binding upon the parties, and may be entered and
enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction by either of the parties.  The
arbitrator shall have the power to grant temporary, preliminary and permanent
relief, including without limitation, injunctive relief and specific
performance.

(ii)   The Company will pay the direct costs and expenses of the arbitration. 
Executive and the Company are responsible for their respective attorneys’ fees
incurred in connection with enforcing this Agreement; however, Executive and the
Company agree that, except as may be prohibited by law, the arbitrator may, in
his or her discretion, award reasonable attorneys’ fees to the prevailing party.

(iii)   This Section 8(e) shall not apply to the Confidentiality and
Noncompetition Agreements.

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(f)   JURISDICTION, ETC.

(i)   Without limiting the generality of the arbitration provisions contained in
Section 8(e), each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any
California State court or Federal court of the United States of America sitting
in the State of California, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any
action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement not required
to be submitted to arbitration pursuant to Section 8(e) or for recognition or
enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably
and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or
proceeding may be heard and determined in any such California State court or, to
the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court.  Each of the parties hereto
agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be
conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or
in any other manner provided by law.

(ii)   Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the
fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection that it may
now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding
arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any California State or Federal
court.  Each of the parties hereto irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of
such action or proceeding in any such court.

(iii)   The Company and the Executive further agree that the mailing by
certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, of any process required
by any such court shall constitute valid and lawful service of process against
them, without the necessity for service by any other means provided by law.

(g)   AMENDMENT AND WAIVER.   The provisions of this Agreement may be amended
and waived by mutual agreement of the parties only by a written instrument
executed by the Company and Executive which makes express reference to this
Agreement and no course of conduct or failure or delay in enforcing the
provisions of this Agreement shall affect the validity, binding effect or
enforceability of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

(h)   TRANSFER OF COMPANY PROPERTY.   On or before the commencement of the
Severance Period, Executive agrees to turn over to the Company any and all
property, tangible or intangible, relating to its business, which he possessed
or had control over at any time (including, but not limited to, Executive’s
Company-provided credit cards, building or office access cards, keys, computer
equipment, manuals, files, documents, records, software, customer data base and
other data), and that he shall not retain any copies, compilations, extracts,
excerpts, summaries or other notes of any such manuals, files, documents,
records, software, customer data base or other datafiles, memoranda, records,
and other documents, and any other physical or personal property which are the
property of the Company and which he had in his possession, custody or control,
including any computers, cellular phones, PDA’s or similar business equipment.

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(i)   HEADINGS.   The section headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.

(j)   COUNTERPARTS.   This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

(k)   CONSTRUCTION.   The parties participated jointly in the negotiation and
drafting of this Agreement and the language used in this Agreement shall be
deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent. 
If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, then this
Agreement will accordingly be construed as drafted jointly by the parties to
this Agreement, and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or
disfavoring any party to this Agreement by virtue of the authorship of any of
the provisions of this Agreement.

(l)   AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT.   The Company and Executive acknowledge that
Executive’s employment is and shall continue to be at-will, as defined under
applicable law.  Executive acknowledges and agrees that nothing in this
Agreement shall confer upon Executive any right with respect to continuation of
employment by the Company, nor shall it interfere in any way with Executive’s
right or the Company’s right to terminate Executive’s employment at any time,
with or without cause and with or without prior notice.

(m)   NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES.   Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or
implied, is intended to confer on any person other than the parties and their
respective successors and permitted assigns any rights or remedies under or by
reason of this Agreement.

(N)   RESIGNATION AS OFFICER AND DIRECTOR.   EFFECTIVE AS OF THE DATE OF
TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT WITH THE COMPANY FOR ANY REASON, EXECUTIVE SHALL BE
DEEMED TO HAVE RESIGNED FROM ALL OFFICES AND DIRECTORSHIPS, IF ANY, THEN HELD
WITH THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES.

(O)   INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 409A.   THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE INTERPRETED,
CONSTRUED AND ADMINISTERED IN A MANNER THAT SATISFIES THE REQUIREMENTS OF
SECTION 409A OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), AND
THE TREASURY REGULATIONS THEREUNDER, AND ANY PAYMENT SCHEDULED TO BE MADE
HEREUNDER THAT WOULD OTHERWISE VIOLATE SECTION 409A OF THE CODE SHALL BE DELAYED
TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY FOR THIS AGREEMENT AND SUCH PAYMENT TO COMPLY WITH
SECTION 409A AND THE TREASURY REGULATIONS THEREUNDER.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Executive Severance
Benefits Agreement as of the date first written above.

[GUITAR CENTER, INC.]

 

[MUSICIAN’S FRIEND, INC.]

 

[GUITAR CENTER STORES, INC.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Name of Executive]

 

 

 

 

 

Address for Notice:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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