After years of lugging around the mighty (heavy & cumbersome) STC4017, BBC outside broadcasters must have been absolutely delighted, in the mid-1950s, by the arrival of the 4037! Designed specifically for the burgeoning new medium of television, the STC4037 was a triumph of British understatement! Even by modern standards it is light (260g) and well-balanced, and its slender, tapered, profile feels very comfortable in the hand. Also the black shrivel enamel finish is non-reflective under TV lighting. The 4037 was so beautifully minimal and unobtrusive (and black) that it soon became affectionately known as ‘The Stick’. ‘The Stick’ came in 2 sizes, the 21.3cm long version, the STC4037A, and the shorter 13.6cm STC4037C. The short version had slightly less bass response but was extremely unobtrusive, all but disappearing in the presenter’s hand.
A couple of TV clips from the 1960s featuring the STC4037 :-
Gwyn Thomas talks to Alan Whicker about the Chip Crisis
A great Liverpool band The Undertakers with 4037 on vocals
The original box arrived a wee bit bruised and battered!
STC4069A connector and PAS45/14 stand adapter
3 pin connector on base of mic
STC4069A Connector
Click Here For Short Sound Clip.
Meanwhile here is another couple of suggested uses!!
Crisp snare, nice fat toms, and smooth detailed cymbals, and so much bottom end that the kick mic was nearly redundant! Job done!
Here is a short live clip of this kit with the 4037 as pictured.
Martin Mitchell's Microphones 
Another great post, Martin. I have never used one of these, so good to read something about it.
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Hi Stewart,
Have posted a couple of sound clips of the STC4037. (Drums and Double Bass) Would be interested to know what you think.
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My initial voice tests with this mic make me think that it may be good for a lot of different musical applications.Reminds me of the Sennheiser MD21 Anyhow, I’ll post some more clips soon.
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Hello there – reviving quite an old post, but I have a couple of STC 4037s, an A and a C, which came to me described as ‘dead’. Further investigation shows them sickly but not yet dead! The A has an intermittent output if you handle it in certain ways close to the capsule (a loose connection perhaps), and the C has output but very weak. I wondered if anyone can shed any light on how to dismantle these mics so I can have a closer look, and perhaps more fully revive them! I see no obvious ways to do so, and wondered if (like the 4033) there are some screws etc. hidden beneath the black crinkle finish. Any thoughts appreciated! All the best, Neil
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As far as I know there are 2 screws buried under hard wax in the plug socket. Having never taken mine apart I am unaware of any other external screws. Good Luck! Let us know how you get on.
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