National mandolin

[fred d]

:( I recently bought a National resonator mandolin and it's loud I also have a Gold tone 110 sounds good also but as a instrument with a pick up it's a little weak on projection. Last week at a old time bluegrass jam I was told I wasn't playing loud enought so I showed this person my mandolin Gold tone and that it's projection wasn't the greatest His response is you should get yourself a proper bluegrass instrument. I responded that I would bring my National and He said that it sounded to much like a Banjo and was not a proper bluegrass instrument?? and my wife's tenor banjo wasn't either. I have read that Monroe had a tenor and drums in his band before scrubs
So where is the proper place to play this wonderfull mandolin?? And I guess I should take my drum to the bluegrass jam ( It would be loud enought ) fred:)) thanks for any responses