Often overlooked on MultiScales is the effect that picking has on tone. If the point of the MultiScale is to sweeten the treble and focus the bass, then the extreme difference in the picking distance from the saddle will have the opposite effect; the bass will be softened by being far from the saddle and the treble will be hardened by being close to the saddle. For this reason the perpendicular fret should be moved as high up the neck as possible, and the string length disparity should not be pushed past what is actually necessary to accomplish the goal of balanced tone. When one considers the tonal difference between even a short scale vs a long scale Martin of otherwise similar dimensions (OM vs 000) it is clear that even 1/2" makes a remarkable and noticeable difference. If you take a look at my work over the last ten years you will see that this is just what I've been up to. It works.
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