Heavy *and* bright.

Also expensive if you want a full quilted/flamed body.

Better - IMHO - to use a lighter and less expensive wood for the body, and choose a very nice quilted/flamed cap for the WOW factor!  You could have Ash, or Alder (if you want something similarly light in colour) ...

I see your point(s).... I've done ash/alder with figured tops, but I want to try something else. Much like the Suhrs, Kramers and Jacksons of the eighties and nineties. Also, I don't have the right equipment to make a Strat-style body with arm contour and drop top.....

I did some google searching and you are right: Solid figured maple is expensive..... Maybe an alternative? I've seen Ben Crowe of Crimson use quilted sapele, but I'm afraid that won't be much cheaper.......

Mark did one of his live sessions on making a drop top ... I don't recall there being a lot of special tools required.

But if it's still not possible, how about just veneering the top after you've carved the arm contour?  

Any figured wood is going to be expensive.  If you get a piece of figured maple thick enough for a body, somebody else will look at that and see an opportunity to slice it into 4 caps.  So, the price you'd pay for a solid quilted body will be 4x the price of a quilted cap. 

Ouchy!

Well.... you're probably right. I think I'll put this one on hold until I run into something nice.....