Jacob Stainer was the earliest and best known Austrian and Germanic luthier. His violins were sought after by famous 17th- and 18th-century musicians and composers including Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and George Simon-Lohein. Arcangelo Corelli was one of many who played a Stainer violin.

A luthier is a craftsperson who builds or repairs string instruments that have a neck and a sound box.