I just got my first violin during the holidays and after watching a video or two tried to replace the strings with a nicer set of helicore strings. After a few moments the string was apparently tightened as much as it easily would but was still so wobbly that it made no sound, so I tried gently but very firmly turning the peg more and it snapped and the fingerboard fell down. Naturally, before attempting anything else, I thought I would try and get some advice first. Any help on how to replace all 4 strings and how to set the bridge back up would be very much appreciated.

Hi , I do this every day, so to me it is not hard. Most people think it is though.

Well put something under the tailpeice to protect the violin top. Then with the bridge off sill, put all 4 strings on only slitly tite ( just so the srings on the pegss will stay repped tite.)

Then hold the bridge in about the center between the end of the fingerboard and the tailpeice, with the top facing the fingerboard and the feet the tailpeice.

Now bring the top of the bridge up to the strings and be sure the strings all are fitting in there propper slots on the bridge.

Now push up on the bridge as you straiten the bridge to upright ( THe strings are not so tite that as you lift the bridge the feet are not hard to move back to the propper plaece. without hardly tuching the violin top.) You have to keep pushing the bridge up hard aginst the strings.

The center of the bridge feet should be in line with the nicks in the f holes. (you can go just to the back of the bridge feet too. Move it around a little and see were it sounds the best. withing 2mm or 3mm .) Be sure to keep straitening the bridge as you then titen the strings to tune it.( as you tune the violin ,the bridge will be pulled forword and fall over if you are not carfule.)
Try to titen the string evenly. Not one to much more then the other at one time. Be sure that you keep the bridge in the center of the violin top too.

Any more questions you can Email me at : Mr_violin@hotmail.com

Good luck! Let me know if it worked out ok for you.
P.S. Sorry my spelling never has been good!!!

Thanks, I followed your advice and watched some other videos and now it works very well. The biggest problem was actually that the pegs weren't all the way in or they slid out a bit as I tightened it, so I just pushed them in as I tightened.