simple 7/8th (super)strat ...

[TBurst Std]

As an additional example. Let’s take Ted Nugent from the 70s and the song Great White Buffalo or Stranglehold. His guitar tone is anything but warm.
He was playing a 23.5 scale Gibson Byrdland.

Scale length is not a cause of warmer tone. A smaller scale length may allow you the choice to play heavier gauge strings which MAY have a warmer tone.

 

[TBurst Std]

Another example. Rickenbacker 325. 20.75 scale length. No where in the early 60s Beatles' recordings would you call John Lennon's tone warm.

Tone is largely pickups, electronics, amplification and speakers.

Going back to the BMG reference I made. Yes Brian's tone at times is quite warm. Thats due to his amplification. He was using a NON Top Boost AC30 with EF 86 preamp tubes (not 12AX7. If you have ever compared these in person, the EF 86 vs 12AX7 tubes produce a marked difference in tone). He also deleted the tremelo circuit. To get brighter tones, he simply used a Treble Booster.

 

[JohnnyHardtail]

Scale length also has an effect on brightness and harmonic overtones of the strings. I don’t know if this is controversial, but IMO you will never get a Fender Mustang to have an authentic Strat tone.

Out of respect for the thread OP, I think this topic should be discussed elsewhere.