Help: PRS SE Custom 24 first setup

[davidrf]

My luthier was on holiday so I decided to give my new SE Custom 24 a setup. And I've never done it before.

I replaced the nut with a Graph Tech Tusq... no problem.
Put new strings (10-46)... no problem.
The brige is nice and parallel to the body of the guitar... no problem I guess.

Then, before fine-sanding the nut, I wanted to adjust the truss rod and the action... and I found out my truss rod wrench is in a wrong size and doesn't fit!

Now if I check the action with the guitar in tune putting a capo on the first fret and pressing on the 24th fret, at the 12th fret there's barely any space between string and fret.

Since I don't have the immediate possibilty of adjusting the truss rod, what can I do in the meantime? Can I still sand the nut to lower the action up there? It's a bit too high for sure. Or... what else can I do? Thanks.

 

[Perry]

Personally, I would obtain the correct size truss rod wrench and do the neck relief first. That way, you can gauge the correct string height required at the nut as the action at the first fret (your point of measurement) can be significantly affected by the overall bow in the neck.