The 403 is a better machine IMHO. If you have all the cams you have the ability to adjust the stitch width. The built in stitches on the 401 have only one width and it is an allusion that there might be some infinite variety of stitches. After comparing the two, my go to machine is the 403. If you want a vintage machine with a big variety of stitches look for a Singer 319 and a big pile of disks.