Now, first off, why did I choose these two to compare? Well, to me it's simply, neither are particularly good singers. While I'd favor Johnny Cash in the singing department, since he has a clearer tone and better overall vocal quality. Both are AMAZING guitarists. Both told stories. That's the key to this... They told Stories. Bob Dylan had songs like Hurricane, Time are a Changin', and my personally favorite, All Along the Watchtower. Johnny Cash has songs like Folsom Prison Blues, Big River, and I Walk the Line. 

Now, both had their musical differences, Johnny Cash is Blues, County, Rock. (Only sometimes on that last one. He's really Blues/ Country.) 

Bob Dylan was more of a Folk Rock Singer. He kept his guitar work in the background and makes the words his main focus. (He later moved to close exclusivity to Rock.) 

Now, MANY guitarists name both artists as an inspiration, which is interesting, since most people don't really give either enough credit for cultural impact. Bob Dylan inspired Jimi Hendrix, who is considered one of the best guitarists in the world. Johnny Cash also was inspired by him... 

I know many people who admire Johnny Cash for his skill with the guitar. I myself find that his simple but complex guitar works are awesome! The way he manipulated the strings to strengthen his vocals? It's awesome! 

Bob Dylan, was a great guitarist, I've heard guitarists like Slash, Hendrix, Cash and MANY others say that he's awesome! But, his guitar goes in the background. But, he has a froggy vocal style, so he's clearly not putting his vocals up front... What is he putting in the foreground? Well, that's his words. He wrote some of the best songs ever! All Along the Watchtower is amazing... If you look at it carefully, it's one of the best constructed stories I've heard in a song. 

Now... The point of this is, Who do you think made more of an impact? 

Personally, Dylan influenced more people. He helped inspire some of the best regarded guitarists in the world. He helped with a real meaning behind all of his works. Hurricane was a great story about a true event that happened, and this 8 minute song, is just a pure musically awesome journey!

There's many aspects to examine for sure. It's true they are both incredibly talented musicians and notable guitarists. To answer your question , for myself I'd have to say Bob Dylan is the more influential, simply because it is so for me. Now, I'm not familiar with the content of most Johnny Cash's songs aside from like, Folsom Prison Blues and maybe a couple others.  Bob Dylan on the other hand, I took upon myself to further familiarize with his music just based on the content of his songs alone because they stood out to me. Many of his song really strongly reflected the time and real issues faced in the world.

Obviously both of them have influences, but when it comes to personal opinion, I like Johnny Cash a lot more then Bob Dylan. Cash had better songs, and his later stuff was just dark and doomy.

I am guessing a large part of the only having a few responses stems from the fact that you, DarthYoda, selected two musicians from over half a century ago. I'd be willing to be bet most of the users, especially the young ones and the ones from countries not called the United States, haven't heard much of the music of either man.

Both are good. Both are influential and ushered in new sounds, new techniques, new music, and both have been copied and followed and loved.

If the question were: "Who's better?" I'd go with Johnny Cash immediately. I love his music for its simplicity, its messaging, and its tones and beat. I was born in 1981 so I didn't grow up when both were cranking out new material and I'm left with what survived the best. Cash survives the test of time. Dylan is much more topical to the time and culture of America then. I hear Cash on the radio more often than Dylan. And my three year old likes singing "Ring of Fire." She hasn't asked for Bob Dylan music just yet.

But, who's more influential? Dylan. His music can be traced to actually changing political and environmental policy in the United States. You can trace his music through contemporary music and see how people have evolved it over time. Several songs are anthems to anti-war movements and civil rights marches.

That's influence.

HeavyMetalGamer : Cash actually was influenced by Dylan... But really both are great influences to modern society. Both tackled modern issues. But you are right about Cash's music being much more upbeat, and happy. 

Ghostbear1111 : Yeah, I did choose older artists, but both had large influence globally, at least in the west. (Europe and the America's at least.) But, I chose them cause they told stories, many artists now days have a hard time telling compelling stories. If they have do tell stories, it's about the great selection of girls, drugs, and how rich they are. Not about a man who was falsely accused or murder, or a man who abused cocaine, etc. They told us about true stories, or funny ones, like A Boy Named Sue, or One piece at a time.