Installing new striings

[amkcl1]

Hi, I recently purchased an inexpensive bass for my son in lieu of renting. I am familiar with guitars, but new to double basses. I have ordered new strings and begun to setup the new bass, mainly lowering the action. My problem is that when tuning the bass the D string broke near the windings in the peghead, I put a replacement string on and it broke in exactly the same place. I don't want to break the new strings when they come. What is the proper method for installing strings, and what may me causing this to happen? Thanks

[clothsnake]

basses... guitars... its all the same to me (but someone on here will prove me wrong i expect..?) gonna sound daft... but is there an obvious sharp edge or protrusion in the peg area..?

[amkcl1]

Thanks, thats what I thought at first, after the first string broke I filed the edges around the hole that the string goes through in the roller. Then the second string broke. Do you think that the string is binding in the nut slot, an breaking under the stress as it tightens?

[Francois Blais]

What brand of strings did you buy?
Thomastik Dominants (synthetic core) are easy to break at the peg end.

[clothsnake]

i wouldn't imagine the string sticking at the nut would be that much of a problem..? do the strings breah at the nut? or the roller?
i know its worth looking really hard at the roller though... it doesn't take much by way of a 'bump' to break a string (especially under something like 70lbs of tension)

given that this is the difference between a working instrument and not... i would get a luthier to have a quick look at it..? will pay dividends.

[amkcl1]

The strings came on the instrument, I suspect they are the of the poorest quality possible. I have ordered D'Addarios to replace the originals. The strings break just where the string begins to wind around the roller, not on the string end that actually wraps around the roller.

[Francois Blais]

Originally Posted by amkcl1

The strings break just where the string begins to wind around the roller, not on the string end that actually wraps around the roller.

Care to explain that, please?
I'm not sure what you mean.
(my poor english...)

Do you trim strings a lot?
Do you only put a small part of the silk wound are into the roller?
(you must not put the metal wound part into the roller's hole)

Did you string basses before?

In doubt, please bring the instrument to a qualified luthier to restring it and show you how to proceed.

There's also a thread about stringing on the Strings forum:

Changing strings

[amkcl1]

Thanks to those who contributed input on my situation. I have installed the new strings and all is well. I appreciate your time and consideration.