Funny, I never thought I'd see the day I'd be wondering the answer to this question, as it was pretty rare that even broke guitar strings. I did not expect to ever break a bass string.
But the other day, I broke one- not from playing- but from moving the strings from one bass to another, and there was some fraying/crimping at the tuning peg and it gave way during tuning.
I was really considering putting a string from a different brand in its place, really curious as to if I would truly notice a difference in the feel or sound... they were both similar gauge rounds. I would *like* to think I could tell, but then again, I've watching fools who say they can tell the difference between bottled water or tap water- or bottled beer or draft beer- failing a similar tests of the sense for years
In the end, I just took the whole set off and put something else on for now.
Don't ask me, I'm still trying to find the #@$#& "trust rod" on a bass! 
