After an unreasonable amount of waffling, I'm still waffling over which frame to use for my all purpose bike. I expect to put over 80% of my pedal time on the new steed and for that reason I'm looking for something that maximizes comfort but will still let me average 12-15 mph. The Surly LHT meets all of my criteria, especially in the chainstay department. The Soma Saga has a 45 cm chainstay as does the Salsa Vaya.

Looking for a steel frame. I'd like to use drop bars with the top bar at or slightly above seat level. I'll be building the bike at a local bike project shop. I have nearly everything purchased at this point except for the frame, headset, cable and cable housings and front wheel. I thought I was going to go with a local builder for the frame but the wait time of three months and out of pocket expense for the custom build has made me rethink.

Should I just go with the LHT or is there something better out there? And by better, I mean another frame with similar geometry under $800.

That's tour bike spec --e.g., Trek's 520 that has a 45 cm chain stay length of 45 in frame sizes 48 to 63. Perhaps it's possible to order only the frame --it's definitely steel.

I should have clarified this bit, too ... looking for a disc compatible frame since this will be a year round commuter. Is the 520 available with a disc option?

It does but whether Trek sells frames separately these days is a question. I think I know what you're looking for and looking at the numbers, the Surly's effective top tube length is really out there -- sort of like my old Lemond BA -- which makes sizing a bit problematic when you're trying to the stem height up high enough to get the bars level with the seat. The new comfort/endurance frames simplify things as far as achieving the desired body position but the frames generally are a bit more compact than the old tour frame geometry --e.g., I just purchased a Felt 85 a few weeks ago and right out of the box the brake hoods are level with the seat, just by flipping the stem. The frame angles are similar to a tour frame but the cs-length is 1.3" shorter than what you're looking for.

The Jamis Aurora Elite has a long chainstay and disc brakes. The current year model retails considerably higher than $800. However, if you go to your local Jamis dealer, you can order past year models for almost half off.

I got a 2010 model in 2012 for right at $800.

I love my Soma Saga Disc. It's very similar to the Salsa Vaya only big difference is it's available. Your shop should be able to buy either the rim brake version or the disc version. I considered the Disc Trucker but I wanted a sloping top tube so I could have a long head tube and room for a Thudbuster.

LHT is a fine example of a Touring bike frame made in steel and tig welded together in Taiwan, so will be Soma
I think Merry sales Imports, 'soma' Planned ahead with a Kickstand Mount in the Specs.. From what I read here

and the Trek 520, the way the company backs them is different. Limited lifetime or full life of Original Owner .

Looking for "frame only" options since I've purchased most of the rest of the build already.

Velo Orange Campeur at $500. Plus you can mount a kickstand LEGALLY (no frame warranty issues) as it has a kickstand mount. Also, very nicely put together.

Edit: Just saw your need for disc mount. No go on the VO, but you might want to look at the Surely Straggler.

Is there something you don't like about the LHT?

The standard Surly solution to getting the bars high is to use a big stack of spacers above the head tube. It looks different than many bikes, but it works.

I think most bike manufacturers will sell you a frameset, without the other parts.

Most 29ers should have long chainstays. My (Redline Monocog) 29er has 44.5 cm chainstays. With an IGH, I have no problem averaging 12-15 mph (and higher), even with my flat(-ish) bar well above saddle height. Mine is configured for street use, and I use it for everything, commuting, grocery & laundry runs, and fully loaded touring.

They get heavy these long steel beasts. You should, at least, consider aluminum.

Croix de Fer Frameset | Genesis Bikes

Edited to add, even closer to spec... Tour de Fer Frameset | Genesis Bikes

Nope – but... if you're not touring, one of the latest comfort/endurance race frames in my frame size like Specialized's Roubaix, for example, has a wheelbase that just 4 mm shorter than the corresponding steel frame "520" tour bike but comes with a 245mm head tube length which is pretty generous, especially compared to the Trucker's 226mm. And, you could still play around with the steer tube spacers on a Roubaix if desired but it's probably not as necessary when you're not stretched out over the Surly's 61 cm top bar which is even longer than a Lemond BA's – 60.5. The chainstay length is a little shorter on newer bikes but with the Roubaix's Zertz vibration damping inserts incorporated into the seat stays, about all you're getting out of a bigger rear triangle would be room for bigger tires and fenders. I like the old road bikes but for me, time has moved on...

I've got a Lemond BA. I just use a tall stem. The 415mm chainstays put it a bit short of what the OP is looking for, but I do like the ride of that bike.

Raleigh sojourn? Not sure if it is available as a frame only.

Take this- Nashbar Cro-mo Touring Frame
Add this- Nashbar Disc/V-Brake Compatible Cyclocross/Touring/Hybrid Bike Fork

I know a version of their touring frame had 455mm chainstays. Not sure if the design has changed since then, but a quick call to them could solve that.

$150 and you have a frame plus fork that will support disc brakes.

Agreed. Aluminum makes more sense than steel in long-wheelbase frames, as owners of Cannondale touring bikes will attest. Still, good steel long-wheelbase bikes can ride adequately well.

I have thousands of miles on my Trek 7.5 and have ridden other aluminum frames. I like riding it but I get fatigued after 15ish miles. Also, my heels constantly strike my panniers. And the bike is 8 years old and I'm just itching for a new bike. I do have a Lemond BA but it's one of the last models and is carbon and is just too pretty to try to cram fenders and a rack on it. I know from riding the Lemond that I like the drops betters than flat bars but I don't want a riding position that's so aggressive for regular riding. I also know from riding the Trek 7.5 that the aluminum's road buzz gets annoying after awhile. It also has a rather aggressive setup. I've test ridden a few different steel frame touring bikes and enjoy the supple response that steel gives. Plus, the longer chainstays on most touring frames will allow me to fit my feet in the unreasonably small space that exists between the back of the pedal and the front of the panniers. Basically, I kind of know what I want in a frame for this build and while I don't hold any particular grudge against the LHT I also just wanted to know what else it out there before committing to building the bike I'll hopefully be on for at least the next 10 years.

Currently waffling between the Soma Saga Disc and the Disc Trucker.

I see the Nashbar frames mentioned frequently. How are they in terms of comfort and and quality compared to a Surly, Soma or Salsa?

Do you mean you want chainstays longer than 45cm?

I have a Salsa Vaya, on which I use full size panniers (ortlieb) without heel strike and run 45mm tyres with mudguards.

Are you planning lots of fully loaded touring?

I'm not planning on any touring but it would be nice to have that as an option.

No, this will be my all-purpose-haul-a-reasonable-load-for-30-miles-everyday-commuter.

45 cm chainstay is one of the base criteria I've been using when looking at frames.

I had a similar conundrum before I picked my Vaya.

Basically a do everything bike, but particularly year round commuting.
My priorites were steel, discs and the ability to fit fairly big tyres (winter studs).

This is a good article:
Salsa Vaya 1000 Mile Review (or our thoughts on Salsa Vaya vs. Surly LHT) @ The Path Less Pedaled

IMO, the Salsa, Soma and Salsa are all capable.
Which one do you like the look of best?

I like the looks of the Salsa and the Soma but this year's disc trucker is hideous. Not to seem shallow, but I was just about set to go with the trucker but couldn't get over the overall maroonness of it. The 60 cm Vaya is just about unattainable right now. It seems sold out everywhere I've looked within reasonable driving distance and no one will ship it. Tried to get a frame but it's only available in SS and Ti as frame only and I can't justify spending $2K on a bike frame. Well ... let me rephrase that. I can and already have justified it but my wife's not buying that justification!

Get the Salsa Vaya Travel and take it on flights with you... after five round trips the frame cost will have been saved in bike airline fees avoided ;-)

^ Filing this one under unfair. Would love a Ti for a daily bike. Makes sense, too. Alas ... trying to convince someone who doesn't get cycling that such an expenditure is OK over a long period of time is a waste of time.