My banjo doesn't sound good

I have a Huber Lexington and I play it at home so most of the time I play it lightly and it sounds good to my ear. Recently though, I took a Pete Wernick Jam Class and I was playing it harder and was very disappointed to realize that my banjo doesn't cut through the rest. It sounded thuddy and wasn't loud at all. When I purchased this instrument, I wanted that sound that Maple is famous for. Or, as Tom MCkinney says, "Sounds like fire crackers in a number 9 wash tub"

I hope I don't have a lemon.....There was Samick there that sounded a ton better than my banjo