Guitar Center, Inc. operates a chain of guitar and amplifier stores. It offers electric, acoustic, acoustic-electric, classical/nylon, and bass guitar gear, as well as amplifiers, effects, microphones, guitar preamps, direct boxes, wireless systems, specialized guitar recording gear, keyboards, drums and percussion, DJ and lighting, mixers, packages, speakers, stage monitors, power amps, subwoofers, music instruction books, instruction videos, guitar tabs, instructional software, accessories, cables, cases, gig bags and covers, and drum and percussion accessories. Guitar Center, Inc. was formerly known as The Vox Center, and it changed its name in January 1969. The company was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in Westlake Village, California. As of October 9, 2007, Guitar Center, Inc. was taken private.