Petty had offered a $7,500 reward for information about the guitars, including one of Petty's vintage 12-string Rickenbackers, which helped the band produce the band's distinctive sound.

A police spokesman said an arrest was made after the instruments were reported missing last Thursday from The Culver Studios in Culver City, just outside Los Angeles.

Petty responded on Twitter, saying: "Extremely gr8ful 2 the Culver City Police Dept 4 a job well done & touched by the outpouring of good wishes & concern from R fans & friends."

The guitars also included a Mike Campbell model Dusenberg created for Heartbreakers guitar player Mike Campbell for the band's 30th anniversary in 2006.

Petty had Tweeted repeatedly about the guitars after they went missing from the studios where the band has been rehearsing, saying: "These guitars mean a lot" and "No questions ASKED just want them back."

The band, famous for hits including "Learning To Fly," "Refugee" and "Breakdown," kicks off its latest tour on Wednesday in Broomfield, Colorado.